Which companions stories are focused on their class?

[Giganx]

I'm only in act 1 and I find myself wanting to respec a lot of the companions, but I still want their classes to be consistent with their storylines.

For example, Wyll's story so far seems almost entirely centered around being a Warlock and his demon pact, so respeccing him would feel wrong.

On the other hand, Astarion's story so far is more about him being a Vampire, and the fact that he's a Rogue is incidental. His story and character would still make sense with almost any class.

So, avoiding spoilers as much as possible, which companions do you all feel can be respeced and have their stories still make sense?

[Action Man]

Lae'zel is pretty open to other classes. Karlach's backstory can work with any melee focused class. The others I would say their class matches their background.

[Recjawjind]

Gale is very very verrrry much focussed around being a wizard, shadowheart being a cleric and wyll being a warlock. Outof the origins, I'd say the classes are most integral to these three. Karlachs personality is very barbarian, so a case could be made for her too. The rest I'd say are more flexible.

[DawnCry]

I would say don't touch Gale, Wyll and Shadowheart, their class is just something really important for their storyline.

For the rest they admit some sort of respec, but I wouldn't make for example Astarion a mage.

[Agony_Aunt]

Shadowheart clearly is focused around her class, although you could say its more around her deity to some extent.

Lazael doesn't really matter, although a martial class suits her attitude the best.

Gale's whole shtick is being a wizard, although maybe you could make a case for him being a sorcerer instead.

Jaheira is originally a Fighter/Druid, so you could respect her as multiclass Druid, but the Druid part really has to stay.

Minsc was originally made a ranger since when he was created there was no Barbarian class, so respeccing him as a Barbarian actually makes sense.

[dustin1280]

Class Specific Story:
Shadow Heart
Halsin
Gale
Wyll

Story's that wouldn't matter too much:
Astarian
Jaheira
Minsc -- barbarian actually suits his personality, attitude, and behavior the best.

Story's where you want to keep the martial Archetype, but otherwise could go any way:
Lae'zel
Karlach

[Eqqsquizitine Buble-Schwinslow]

Lae'zel, Astarion, and Karlach are pretty much not tied to their classes at all in terms of the story.

And, there's always multiclassing.

Maybe you want Gale to be a dualwielding Gandalf dude with a sword in one hand and a staff in the other?

If so, put a level or two (or maybe three, I'm not your dad) into fighter, or hell, why not rogue? As long as you remember to pick up the dual weilding feat (quarterstaffs are not light weapons) and stay the hell away from Barbarian.

Barbarian Wizards are the inbred spawn of schizophrenic criminals.

[RhodosGuard]

Shadowhearts Cleric Domain sucks.
YOu later find a document that lists her as "the Healer" of the group she was a part of, but her domain is completely about Stealth for some reason.
I would say you could change her Domain as cleric without it being too much of a deviation.
(just maybe stay away from the light domain)

But there is a potentially very obvious turning point in her Quest where changing domain, if I had any say, should have been compulsory.

[dustin1280]

Originally posted by RhodosGuard:

Shadowhearts Cleric Domain sucks.
YOu later find a document that lists her as "the Healer" of the group she was a part of, but her domain is completely about Stealth for some reason.
I would say you could change her Domain as cleric without it being too much of a deviation.
(just maybe stay away from the light domain)

But there is a potentially very obvious turning point in her Quest where changing domain, if I had any say, should have been compulsory.

Shadowhearts domain is specifically tied to her story and Shar

I changed it anyway, because trickery domain sucks, but it absolutely is directly tied to her storyline.

[steelcoresoviet]

I disagree with most of the posters here: Laezel is very much a trained soldier, and that affects her decision making process and discipline.

Her quest makes the most sense as a trained combatant.

[Toblm]

Wyll and Halsin are the only ones I'm buying.

Shadowheart best fits as a holy class. Cleric OR Paladin. But also fits well enough with Warlock (though perhaps not the subclasses available). Or any Acolyte background. Priestess of Shar is a background or job, not a class.

Gale could be any magic class. Wizard is the best fit. Sorcerer or Warlock could be used to describe the sources of his power as they stand while we know him. The power is inside him due to the black hole in his chest. Or the power given to him through a deal (or perhaps curse) from his patron.

Even Wyll could be another class. Warlock is one way to make a deal with a devil. Warlock isnt the only way to get into a contract with a devil. The idea of Wyll as a Sword Bard who made a deal for the power to protect amuses me. Paladin could work too and not even necessarily an oathbreaker.

Halsin could also be a Ranger, but is something more of a stretch because we meet him as a bear. However its DnD, there are more than one way to become a bear. But it requires some squinting.

Jaheira could easily be a Ranger. Again her shapeshifting before she becomes a party member is a little weird. But again, there is more than one way to transform into a cat.

Astarian is pretty flexible. I think blades should feature. Dex Fighter, Rogue, Bard. Dex Barb with "Vampire Bloodlust" could work even. Maybe even an oathbreaker paladin.

Lae'zel and Karlach ought to be hitting things. Any Martial works. Both could fit Paladin. Karlach could fit sorcerer (chucking fireballs from the heart) but that would fit best in a martial multiclass.

[Agony_Aunt]

Originally posted by steelcoresoviet:

I disagree with most of the posters here: Laezel is very much a trained soldier, and that affects her decision making process and discipline.

Her quest makes the most sense as a trained combatant.

Sure, but that could be Paladin, Ranger, or Barbarian.

Paladin: Well, i'm going back some years here, but Unearthed Arcana had the Paladins of Tyranny, Slaughter, and Freedom... she might make a good fit for the Paladin of Tyranny.

Ranger... its a stretch, but Rangers of the Astral Plane used to be a thing.

Barbarian, well, she does have a temper on her, so i could see that working as well.

[guppy]

Honestly shadowheart could be a paladin 'holy warrior' if you want to deal with the whole oath thing, not much miss align with her story - it would also properly be more compatible with the path I didn't take - but I can't know for sure for obvious reason ;)

[White Rider]

Originally posted by steelcoresoviet:

I disagree with most of the posters here: Laezel is very much a trained soldier, and that affects her decision making process and discipline.

Her quest makes the most sense as a trained combatant.

Indeed but really she's fine story wise as any melee class other than monk as she's really fond of her weapons.

I made her a gloomstalker ranger / battlemaster fighter / assassin rogue. She's quick, hits things hard while being able to infiltrate to kill key enemies.

For Mother Gith!

[Muad'Dib]

Originally posted by DawnCry:

I would say don't touch Gale, Wyll and Shadowheart, their class is just something really important for their storyline.

For the rest they admit some sort of respec, but I wouldn't make for example Astarion a mage.

I agree with leaving Wyll and Shadowheart alone. Gale I can see making a Sorcerer, but he’s better as a Wizard of course. Astarion works well as a Rogue, Fighter or Bard.

[White Rider]

You could potentially respec Shadowheart after act 2 while still fitting into her storyline.
Her power no longer comes from Shar if you save Nightsong. She's blessed by Selune instead. She could stay a cleric or completely change class and story wise it could still fit easily. The only classes I'd say really wouldn't thematically fit would be Druid and Warlock. Anything else would be fine.