POLL: Powergamer poll: Which race is best?

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Which protagonist race, from a powergamer's viewpoint, is most powerful?

Dwarf
1)+1 CON, -1 CHA.
2)Bonus to saves vs. Magic and Poison based on CON.

Elf.
1)+1 DEX, -1 CON.
2)90% resistant to Sleep & Charm spells.
3)+1 THAC0 with swords and bows.

Gnome
1)+1 INT, -1 WIS
2)Bonuse to saves vs. Magic based on CON

Half-Elf
1)30% resistant to Sleep & Charm spells.
2)Most available multi-classes

Halfling
1)+1 DEX, -1 STR
2)+1 THAC0 with thrown weapons & slings
3)Best Thief skill bonuses
4)Bonus to saves vs. Magic and Poison based on CON

Human
1)Ability to dual class
2)Most available classes

Half-Orc
1)+1 STR, +1 CON, -2 INT

After voting, a response with an explanation of your vote would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[ July 24, 2005, 08:42: Message edited by: Klorox ]

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 31 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Powergamer poll: Which race is best? (31 votes.)

Powergamer poll: Which race is best? (Choose 1)
* Dwarf - 13% (4)
* Elf - 16% (5)
* Gnome - 0% (0)
* Half-Elf - 26% (8)
* Halfling - 6% (2)
* Human - 32% (10)
* Half-Orc - 6% (2)

 

Elves. Not only am I choosing elves because of personal bias, but because their resistance to charm and sleep comes in handy. The bonus to hit is handy, as is the bonus to dex. I tend to dedicate more to dex than con, so they suit my playing style. Also, aside from the half-elves, they have the best multiclass options.

 

Half-Orc...good fighter, and who needs INT anyway... ...

 

It depends on the class you're playing, really...

Stat bonuses are great but you can use items instead (who cares about STR 19? especially if you're powergaming) that nearly rules out Half Orcs for me... Almost any day a Dwarf would be a better choice (even though the paper doll looks nice and it can be fun RPwise -but hey it's all about powergaming here).

I'm not sure that the bonuses based on CON that you list are properly implemented, Dwarves and Halflings get better saves that's certain. I don't think that the resistance to sleep and charm is correctly implemented either (though I think one of the patches fixes it).

The best thieves are Halflings as you mentioned, yet they lose STR (which is not so bad since you can compensate this with a belt) a pure class thief or thief multi class would benefit from being a Halfling: extra DEX, better %.

Gnomes are the best if you want a MC mage since you get a specialist (illusionist) which means an extra spell per level, still a far cry from Edwin yet think about Cleric/Illusionist (remember Quayle?) this can be quite effective (your character will have more flexibility than Edwin and will certainly be better than Aerie).

The best non arcane MC are only available to Half Elves: just think about the Ranger/Cleric -period.

If you want a single class character Elf is a great choice (if you're powergaming you don't care a whit about romances and dear old Viconia) although you might seriously consider a Dwarf for a single class fighter (depends if you like CON or DEX like Celesialraven, IMO CON is better if you're powergaming: DEX 17 isn't that bad and you can increase it with bracers and get some extra points later on -probably too late if you don't play ToB- a very high DEX doesn't give you many advantages if you're not playing a thief, a fighter will be better off with a very high CON).

Humans aren't that gifted. They still have one thing going for them: Dual Classing. It's very thrilling to explore all the possibilities that are offered by DC and combining with the inherent advantages of kits (from the first class).
Still in a powergaming perspective it isn't that great since power is what we want, not versatility (although it is SoA and you're not going to hit higher levels which means that in comparison DC are not so weak after all).

By the way you left out infravision which doesn't really influence the game though.

It's hard to answer to this poll, I'd choose Half Elf though (good old Ranger/Cleric).

 

I'm voting Dwarf, especially if you play BGI (and naturally regenerate with a 20 CON, as well as achieve an 18 DEX). Unfortunately, there aren't too many multiclasses for the Dwarf to take advantage of.

 

@Klorox: a Dwarf single class fighter (Berserker) would probably be a better choice than a MC (Fighter/Cleric? Fighter/Thief?). I'm not overtly fond of MC (Fighter/Cleric is limited in the number of weapons he can use; a Dwarf Fighter/Thief with DEX 17 isn't as good as a Halfling ).

 

I say Elves. After all, who needs constitution if you're never hit? Resistance to charm and sleep make it hard for him to be turned against you or put out of the fight. Plus, the bonuses for swords and bows really help fighters.

Of course, I play an Elven Wizard, so I don't take full advantage of the race. But, recently I was playing as an elven fighter, and I must say, he kicked serious ass.

 

So many races, so many powergaming options! I mean, think about humans and the ability to dual-class: there are so many sick combinations out there (Ranger/Cleric; Kensai/...whatever). Half-Orcs are great for warriors. Elves get some nice natural bonuses and some great multiclass combos (FMT!). But I think I'd have to go for human. Does it get much cheesier than the R/C, K/M or K/T?

In BG1, it would've been elves, purely for the extra bow skills on top of higher DEX. In BG2, the ridiculous amount of XP knocking around makes dual-classing much more powerful in the end.

 

HUMANS forever! DualClassing is BOTH fun and VERSATILE!

I really can not think to play without DCing with a human. BUT again this is still my opinion.

 

Dwarf. They've always been my favorite, especially in the good old days of pencil and paper AD&D.

Those saving throw bonuses can not be overlooked!

 

Half-Elf. Wild Mage, Sorcerer, Ranger/Cleric, Fighter/Druid, Bard.
Convenience is also an important factor in determining who's who in powergaming, and the Half-Elf multi-classes are much easier to play than their dual-classed counterparts.
Sheer power wise, though, I'd say Human.

[ July 26, 2005, 20:30: Message edited by: Scythesong Immortal ]

 

@ Caradras: I enjoy multiclassing a whole lot, but that berserker rage is making me think twice. It's quite powerful!

 

Half-elves. They can be almost every class. And they don't have any drawbacks (and besides cleric/ranger rocks!)

 

Dual class human. If this is powergaming, you could be level 39/40 something or other.

Or (half) elf triple class. That's quite powerful in the later stages as well.

 

Purely race-wise, I'd say elves. As always. Damn little buggers.

 

I'd say human. This is solely because of the DC option. A DCed K/M is quite powerful, and can easily be soloed. If dualled as a lvl 9 char, you will be able to get those lvls back purely by learning spells fairly quickly. If dualled at lvl 12, you will be able to get to lvl 7-10 by learning spells, and if dualled just before going to spellhold, you should be able to get those lvls back as soon as you leave for Sahuagin city/Underdark, and IMO going through the mazes beneath spellhold ain't that hard with a mage, unless you're playing with tactics, and got the improved lich at the first lvl. (Or you could always go cheesy and dual just before going to lvl 2 of the mazes, get most lvls from learning spells, and the rest by getting multiple xp rewards from the big head blocking the passage to lvl 2 )

A B/M is just as powerful (or almost anyways), and if playing a party, a K/T just rocks.

 

Elves definately. Rangers are quite lethal IIRC.