Are elves just better?

[e11]

I'm going to take a trip down memory lane and play the whole series through with the same character. I'm thinking Inquisitor, which of course is human only. But I might also go Berserker. And that 90% resistance to sleep and charm seems well worth the -1 to Constitution.

Is there something I've overlooking? Is there any reason NOT to go with Elf?

[fauxpas]

Only humans can Duel, and if you understand the system you can make some ... "interesting" combinations.


But other than that, yes, humans get the short end of the stick and the only reason not to be a demihuman is for RP reasons, although I think I'd argue that dwarves probably beat elves in a pure numbers game.


However with that said, the BG Saga isn't difficult enough to have to worry about min maxing and squeezing every last ounce out of characters like that so I consider the issue rather silly.

[e11]

Originally posted by fauxpas:

However with that said, the BG Saga isn't difficult enough to have to worry about min maxing and squeezing every last ounce out of characters like that so I consider the issue rather silly.

Well, sleep/charm can be pretty annoying, so I guess I'm making a hulking, foaming-at-the-mouth killbeast of an elf. Not exactly the stereotype, is it?

[fauxpas]

I personally perfer half-elf berserkers when I go that route but considering that the Ward was raised by Gorian her entire life racial stereotypes are rather moot.

[e11]

Originally posted by fauxpas:

I personally perfer half-elf berserkers when I go that route but considering that the Ward was raised by Gorian her entire life racial stereotypes are rather moot.

Why half-elf? Aren't they just... well, crappier elves?

[wendigo211]

Elves also get a +1 with longswords and longbows if you're planning on using either of those weapons. Dwarves do get the shorty save bonus, but I'm not sure it makes a difference in the long run, eventually with items and buffs from spells you'll get to autofail on a 1 territory with or without the bonus.

[Eisenfell]

all a matter of what class you gonna cook up. Sleep and Charm are nice but the fact that you can make yourself totally spell immune if you want to makes it not that stellar.

in general every single class that does not benefit from 16+ con and needs dex in any way benefits from elf.

-a elf Ranger (Archer Kit) with long/short-bows and long/short-swords is gonna wreck the swordcoast.
- Elf Swashbuckler with Shortbows and Dualwield-Shortsowrds is going to become crazy .

those are two of the strongest that benefit from the one dex. and dont suffer from the 1 con.

one downside is that with 17 starting con getting quick natural regeneration is impossible.

while halforcs and dwarf can kick that off in 10 minutes in the game.

also while Humans have nothing special they can dual-class giving you a level of customization that Multiclass just cant provide. (some multiclasses just have one weaker side after a certain level which then leeches of precious xp and progression speed)


even gnomes kick in with their special Illusionist/XXX multi class which is almost always great.

only ones who really suck are halflings.

[fauxpas]

Originally posted by e11:

Originally posted by fauxpas:

I personally perfer half-elf berserkers when I go that route but considering that the Ward was raised by Gorian her entire life racial stereotypes are rather moot.

Why half-elf? Aren't they just... well, crappier elves?

Mostly because I like the way they look better than elves do coupled with the double whammy if being pulled between two worlds, racially as well as her struggles against Bhaal's murderous nature raging in her soul.

Or in other words, for RP reasons.

[Matuse]

Humans are miles better than any other race because they can dual class and nobody else can. That doesn't even factor in the Monk/Paladin options which are only available to humans. Sleep resistance is meaningless - nothing ever does that. If you're playing a Berserker, then charm is also meaningless, because you can berserk and be totally immune to it.

[fauxpas]

Monk/Pali aren't really good enough reasons in the BG Saga in my opinion though (pnp is another matter entirely of course).

[e11]

Originally posted by Eisenfell:

-a elf Ranger (Archer Kit) with long/short-bows and long/short-swords is gonna wreck the swordcoast.

Hmm. I've had Archer recommended to me before, but since almost every enemy runs into melee I've been reluctant to give it a try.

[possessed_toaster]

Just put one of your companions in heavy armor and let them walk in first. The AI is mostly stupid and attacks the first enemy it sees.

[Eisenfell]

Originally posted by e11:

Originally posted by Eisenfell:

-a elf Ranger (Archer Kit) with long/short-bows and long/short-swords is gonna wreck the swordcoast.

Hmm. I've had Archer recommended to me before, but since almost every enemy runs into melee I've been reluctant to give it a try.

-there is no downside on shooting point blank in BG.
-enemy's in BG are frankly retarded and will attack the first thing that comes in visual range. so if your (insert heavy armored front line character) walks upfront he will get attacked and your ranger in his leather armor just makes pincushions every round without harassment.
- ranged weapon in BG1 are KING. enemy HP is low , your own HP is low. hit chances are low showering the enemy with 1-3 extra attacks before he can start swinging is a huge advantage.
- many ranged weapons have THAC0 Bonus or more important APR bonus.
- BG2 will have one enchanted +4 crossbow you can buy the second you got the gold and later on a+4 shortbow you can assemble , both shoot their own ammunition and will hit pretty much any enemy.

yeah Archer are just Beast, easy to play and strong from start to finish, and with Elf you even get that sweet THAC0 bonus.

just make sure you drop one proficiency pip into a blunt weapon for those enemy's that might be immune to piercing dmg (slimes n golems)

[e11]

Originally posted by Eisenfell:

Originally posted by e11:

Hmm. I've had Archer recommended to me before, but since almost every enemy runs into melee I've been reluctant to give it a try.

-there is no downside on shooting point blank in BG.

Wait, don't enemies get a bonus to hit you if you're wielding a ranged weapon?

[Eisenfell]

Originally posted by e11:

Originally posted by Eisenfell:

-there is no downside on shooting point blank in BG.

Wait, don't enemies get a bonus to hit you if you're wielding a ranged weapon?

ohh boy there actually is ! never noticed it cause my party consists mostly out of ranged combetants with one heavy armored/shielded melee fighter who just runs around kiting people while they get mowed down x)

thought they didnt impliment it in BG but they did.

[jonnin]

Its pretty balanced across races.
the shorty bonus is popular, human dual is popular, orc str/con is popular, gnome illusionist free kit is popular, elf thaco with common weapons is popular... etc .. classes have more balance issues. Some classes and combos are just stronger for max/min.