Hard to pick class and sticking with it

[Baldy]

Hi all, this might be the most mundane question, but as an old fan of BG 1 & 2 plus other RPG, why is it getting harder to stick with just one main character instead of ruminating of rerolling other classes. I'm torn between a barbarian or monk (a class that I never ever pick before). Which one of these classes that you all had the most fun with? I'll go with the community vote. So far I've tried Monk but he kills much slower than my barbarian. Thanks all.

[Cartesian Duelist]

Barbarians have higher damage output than every other class, so if that's your metric then that's the class you want to go with. That being said, IMO barbarians are boring. Rogue is my favorite class followed by bard (swords) then warlock (blade). I like paladins too, but I wouldn't suggest playing a paladin here unless you're fine with being Oathbreaker. Larian didn't design this game for you to play an unambiguously good character.

[Moonbane]

Sorcerer all the way, you havent lived until you twincast Disintegrate.

[nullpo]

Monk is a lot of fun for me. Punching people to death while running around like a maniac is just pure fun.

[Baldy]

Originally posted by Cartesian Duelist:

Barbarians have higher damage output than every other class, so if that's your metric then that's the class you want to go with. That being said, IMO barbarians are boring. Rogue is my favorite class followed by bard (swords) then warlock (blade). I like paladins too, but I wouldn't suggest playing a paladin here unless you're fine with being Oathbreaker. Larian didn't design this game for you to play an unambiguously good character.

Oh the barbarian is a sort of one trick hard hitting pony then? I thought at first everyone might say the monk as it's mainly left hook right hook then uppercut...

[victorvnv]

I’m the opposite I love my bard and can’t play anything else. Maybe a monk here and there or gloom/ rogue but that’s it

[Baldy]

Originally posted by Moonbane:

Sorcerer all the way, you havent lived until you twincast Disintegrate.

That sounded very intriguing and powerfully overpowered, but I'm so bad with micromanagement in rpg that's why I chose melee oriented character instead. I'm slow and old I guess .😜

[Cartesian Duelist]

Originally posted by Baldy:

Oh the barbarian is a sort of one trick hard hitting pony then? I thought at first everyone might say the monk as it's mainly left hook right hook then uppercut...

Once you get to level 3, the subclasses for each will broaden that out a bit, but both classes are essentially fighter replacements. Barbarians are mainly rage then smash stuff with a handful of gimmicks that add to survivability. Monks are an all-out gimmick class, with the subclass determining which set of gimmicks you get. They'll largely be use ki gimmick then go punch stuff.

[dolby]

whatever you do just don't be one of those vanilla noobs that always use twohanded melee weapons and GWM... their are millions of them already...:)

But yeah open hand monk is fun... Monk has best animations in the game by far!

On top of that it doesn't have the problem of barbarian that can't use concentration so you're gimping your party by one concentration slot definitely a no no in my book.

Originally posted by Cartesian Duelist:

Originally posted by Baldy:

Oh the barbarian is a sort of one trick hard hitting pony then? I thought at first everyone might say the monk as it's mainly left hook right hook then uppercut...

Once you get to level 3, the subclasses for each will broaden that out a bit, but both classes are essentially fighter replacements. Barbarians are mainly rage then smash stuff with a handful of gimmicks that add to survivability. Monks are an all-out gimmick class, with the subclass determining which set of gimmicks you get. They'll largely be use ki gimmick then go punch stuff.

lol if that's true everything has gimmicks...just not sure what you mean by gimmicks...

[Baldy]

Originally posted by dolby:

whatever you do just don't be one of those vanilla noobs that always use twohanded melee weapons and GWM... their are millions of them already...:) But yeah open hand monk is fun... Monk has best animations in the game by far.

You sold me out by that. I'll stick by my monk and see how he goes in the long run. By the way this might be a spoiler, but do they have special attacks like the monk in Pillar of Eternity 2? The monk there have moves like soaring dragon kick from some Kung Fu movies I'm sure 😂. If they have that in BG3 that'll be quite cool.

[dolby]

Originally posted by Baldy:

Originally posted by dolby:

whatever you do just don't be one of those vanilla noobs that always use twohanded melee weapons and GWM... their are millions of them already...:) But yeah open hand monk is fun... Monk has best animations in the game by far.

You sold me out by that. I'll stick by my monk and see how he goes in the long run. By the way this might be a spoiler, but do they have special attacks like the monk in Pillar of Eternity 2? The monk there have moves like soaring dragon kick from some Kung Fu movies I'm sure.

well depending on the subclass you pick but all monks have furry of blows and a kick as a bonus action so that's more than any other class gets. on top of that you have patient Defence animation... 2 Stunning Strikes and you can use any weapon with dex... you dip into fighter and multiclass a thief after 6 levels and your set:)

Way of the Four Elements has loads of cool animations but isn't that strong per say.

[Baldy]

Originally posted by dolby:

Originally posted by Baldy:

You sold me out by that. I'll stick by my monk and see how he goes in the long run. By the way this might be a spoiler, but do they have special attacks like the monk in Pillar of Eternity 2? The monk there have moves like soaring dragon kick from some Kung Fu movies I'm sure.

well depending on the subclass you pick but all monks have furry of blows and a kick as a bonus action so that's more than any other class gets. on top of that you have patient Defence animation... 2 Stunning Strikes and you can use any weapon with dex... you dip into fighter and multiclass a thief after 6 levels and your set:)

Way of the Four Elements has loads of cool animations but isn't that strong per say.

I think I'll go with open palm as it's melee focused. Also can I please your character creation to see and compare if I did mine right. From str 12, Dex 16, Con 14, Wis 14, Int 8, Char 10. Outlander (if not mistaken) background. Went half elf as the racial trait is beneficial too.

[victorvnv]

Thrown barbarian is a lot of fun I enjoyed playing with it as you can do some unique stuff like throwing people around as well as improvise weapons , also you get extra crushing damage if you have high ground .

Basically you can one shot many enemies and you get some fun weapons that returns to you when thrown

[Koarpse]

Pick both, go first level barbarian, then the rest of the game monk.

[Frost]

Going to deviate a little bit and suggest Bard. Very versatile and good at everything.

It is also good class for multi-classing, if you feel you want some melee action, you can multi-class into Paladin, if you want some sneaky game play you can multclass with rogue and slap on dual hand crossbows. If you want to go full caster, you can multiclass into Sorcerer or Warlock. Pump charisma and you'll be the king of dialogue while dealing good damage from scaling.

Bard sub-classes support pretty much any play style too.

More on topic though, I'd have to suggest Monk over Barb. Monk can do some really incredible things in this game, while Barb just feels like an inferior Fighter.

[dolby]

Originally posted by Baldy:

Originally posted by dolby:

well depending on the subclass you pick but all monks have furry of blows and a kick as a bonus action so that's more than any other class gets. on top of that you have patient Defence animation... 2 Stunning Strikes and you can use any weapon with dex... you dip into fighter and multiclass a thief after 6 levels and your set:)

Way of the Four Elements has loads of cool animations but isn't that strong per say.

I think I'll go with open palm as it's melee focused. Also can I please your character creation to see and compare if I did mine right. From str 12, Dex 16, Con 14, Wis 14, Int 8, Char 10. Outlander (if not mistaken) background. Went half elf as the racial trait is beneficial too.

Well i play with dumped str Duergar enlarge gives extra damage and it doesn't need concentration and i just use jumping potions or cast ritual leap spell from companion.
i guess you picked Wood Half-Elfs? that movement bonus is fine if that's the case. Goes well with monks bonus that you get with the class.
So that's up to you and your way of playing. anyway i have 8 str 17 dex 15 con wis 16, int 8, cha 8 for what's it's worth.

You can even multiclass a monk into spore druid that gives you 1d6 damage per attack works well with furry of blows.