First Time Player: What are the Top 5 classes for a beginner?

[fuzzytae]

I have been doing a lot of research before playing this game. The lack of hand-holding is pretty intimidating. From what I have seen, here is the Top 5 from all of the websites that I visited:

1. Kensai & Mage (dual-class)
2. Fighter/Mage (multi)
3. Fighter/Thief (multi)
4. Inquisitor or Cavalier (solo)
5. Paladin (solo)

Personally, I am looking to play the saga through once and be done with it. I don't plan on grinding to have a god-tier character, although, I would like to have a pretty powerful character that can make it through any situation throughout the game. I am interested in 1, but I really do NOT want to grind for the majority of the game. I would prefer to the role play without having the urge to viscously puck out my nose hairs. Both 2 and 3 seem like great options, but I have heard so much about both classes in the fourth spot that it makes narrowing my choices. I do not care much for Paladin because of the moral restrictions, but I heard it was very good. I plan on playing as a Chaotic Good or Neutral Good, so being a character that can only be Lawful Good is not something I would like to do. I like the thought of a Kensai/Inquisitor or Cavalier, but I am not sure that is possible. Is it?

I am also unfamiliar with how the exporting is once I finished BG: EE. I would like to continue my character's story, but I am unsure if my build will be the same or if the slate would be wiped clean and I have a chance to reassign my role (like Mass Effect). I was told by many people on reddit that dual classing would be ideal in BG1 and multi classing in BG2, so I am assuming that my perks will reset.

I have been holding off playing this game because of this dilemma. Please help.

[Alagass]

If made properly most classes are good. I'd say Mages are the hardest for beginners as they have the most limitations without their spells(Sorcerers are more flexable) and the memorizing spells beforehand can be frusterating for newer players especially in BG1. Clerics and Druids can feel similar but can be better equiped and have better martial skills so it doesn't feel as bad. Fighters are the easiest class to play BG1 as since they have exccellent Health and Armor. BG can feel like a game of survival more than anything.

Fun Fact a Human Fighter that Dual classes into Mage at after fighter level 8 loses Zero Mage levels in Late Game BG2 due to the xp cap and mages strange xp grind. You can play BG1 as a Fighter(caps at 8) and then transition into mage in BG2, where they truely shine anyhow.

[𝔜𝔲𝔢]

My tip would be:
Ignore all the advice regarding 'best' classes and go with one that you'd enjoy. There are no 'wrong' or 'bad' classes, every class can be pretty awesome if played correctly.

I'd say the biggest difference/difficulty between the classes is right at the beginning of the game.
While fighter-classes won't have much problems with the early enemies, it's far harder for magic-based classes.
For example, mages start out really, reaaaally weak and need a couple of levels to do ... well, anything, because they only have access to a handful of spells. But once you managed to reach level 4/5, you'll notice a sudden increase in their usefulness.

By the way, most of these 'top' classes are probably directed at more experienced players. For example, Kensai/Mage is pretty good, but it takes quite a while to actual get there (have fun playing a warrior without the ability to equip armor up to level 7, then dual class to a weak mage that need another 7 levels to finally start being awesome). It can be pretty frustrating for a new player, I'd imagine, because you only start getting good right at the end of BG I.

O, and ignore the solo-character guides, that's only something for experienced or masochistic players :)

So, all in all, i'd recommand to just roll with a class that you'd enjoy, instead of going with guides and other stuff.

[wendigo211]

Originally posted by Q3C-273:

I have been doing a lot of research before playing this game. The lack of hand-holding is pretty intimidating. From what I have seen, here is the Top 5 from all of the websites that I visited:

1. Kensai & Mage (dual-class)
2. Fighter/Mage (multi)
3. Fighter/Thief (multi)
4. Inquisitor or Cavalier (solo)
5. Paladin (solo)

Inquisitor and Cavalier are paladin kits (sub-classes) so they have to be lawful good. Kensai can't be chaotic.


Kensai Mage isn't as hard to level up as people make out. The big thing with Kensai is the no armor rule, however the enemies stick to their targets like glue, so as long you send in your tanks first and only have your Kensai attack a target that's engaged with someone else he'll be fine. The XP cap for BG was always low relative to amount of XP in the game and it is possible to hit the cap before you enter the titular city, so you probably play around 1/3 the game at max level.

If you want something that's easier to level up, Berserker/Cleric is another option and one that is quite strong, although you probably want to play as a pure Berserker until level 13 and then dual to cleric in BG 2, rather than dual class in BG.

If you're a fan of the Fighter/Thief the Stalker is another option. And the Fighter 13 dualed to a Thief works quite well in BG 2.

I am also unfamiliar with how the exporting is once I finished BG: EE. I would like to continue my character's story, but I am unsure if my build will be the same or if the slate would be wiped clean and I have a chance to reassign my role (like Mass Effect). I was told by many people on reddit that dual classing would be ideal in BG1 and multi classing in BG2, so I am assuming that my perks will reset.

I have been holding off playing this game because of this dilemma. Please help.

There is no respec option, the character you import from BG is the character you get in BG II.

The way dual classing works is that you start as a human pure class character and at some point you dual class to a second class. When you do this, you no longer progress in your first class and you lose all the abilities from your first class except for hitpoints and saving throws until your new class is one level higher. At which point you regain the abilities of your first class. You then continue leveling up in your second class and you never progress again in your first class, but the abilties you previously had are there.

With multiclassing you always have the abilities from both classes but the XP is split between the two classes as is the hitpoints (you get half the HP you would normally get if you leveled up as pure class character whenever you level up).

Here are some points about multiclassed and dual-classed characters:

• Multiclass characters cannot have kits, dual class characters can have kits in thier first class
  
• Multiclass Fighters can only spend 2 proficiency points on weapon proficiencies, dual classed Fighters can spend 5 proficiency points
  
• Dual classed characters get thier full hitdice when leveling up, so dual classed Fighter/Mage, will probably have 30-40 more hitpoints than a multi-classed Fighter/Mage.
  
• Spellcasters are stronger than non-spellcasters at higher levels, so once you get to a certain level with your Fighter (7 and 13 tend to be the dualing levels) you don't really gain anything by continuing to level as a Fighter. Thus dualing lets you progress faster as a spellcaster because you aren't splitting your XP like a multiclass character.
  
• XP amounts needed to level tend to double every level until you hit level 9-10. So up to that point multi-classed characters will be 1 level behind the party in both classes, E.g. if you have a level 9 Fighter in your party, you probably have an 8/8 Fighter/Mage. After that the XP needed level tends to be constant and multiclassed characters start falling further behind.
  
• There is a bug with importing dual-classed characters in BG2 that can cause their HP to be messed up.
  
• Multiclassed and dual-classed Clerics and Druids can only use Cleric and Druid weapons.
  
• Multiclassed and dual-classed Mages can only cast spells when they aren't wearing armor.
  
• Multiclassed and dual-classed Thieves can only use their thieving abilities in studded leather or lighter armor and they can only backstab with Thief weapons.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

The secondary class cannot be a kit, and paladins cannot multi-class or dual-class anyway. Kensai/Inquisitor is not possible.

You may use the "Create Party" button and create more than a single player character. The first one will be the special one. The second one could become a class you wouldn't want to miss throughout the game. Some NPC companions come as pairs, however, so less free slots in the party could mean not enough space for some of the NPCs. It's possible to kill NPC companions in the party or let them be killed during a fight with enemies and remove them afterwards instead of resurrecting them.

Originally posted by Q3C-273:

I have been doing a lot of research before playing this game. The lack of hand-holding is pretty intimidating.

The official Adventurer's Guide manual is very helpful (fetch the very latest one as offered for Siege of Dragonspear as a separate download!), provided that you take the time to study it a bit to get a good overview of what to expect. Walkthroughs and similar guides written by players often add much confusion and increase the hurdle for new players, because of either their specific requirements to apply meta-gaming or because of uncertain requirements (the writer knows the game well but doesn't mention everything). Some of the guides read as if there were only few solutions to the game. That's not true.

As with many other games, meta-gaming knowledge complicates the matter a lot. New players aim at a "perfect run", but that becomes harder the more you read about the game instead of experiencing it yourself.

Originally posted by Q3C-273:

From what I have seen, here is the Top 5 from all of the websites that I visited:

Uh? No Fighter/Cleric in there at all? Multi-class or dual-class. Fighter 9 -> Cleric is a very popular choice. You are a plain fighter all the time in BGEE and dual-class later.

Originally posted by Q3C-273:

I am also unfamiliar with how the exporting is once I finished BG: EE.

If the Siege of Dragonspear DLC is installed, the game continues into that expansion automatically. No exporting or importing necessary. A bit after the start of Siege of Dragonspear, you will lose some NPC companions and their items forever.

If you want to move on to BG2EE instead, simply launch that game, and its import game method takes a look at the save folder of BGEE. You may import any saved game, not limited to an automatically done "final save" game.

In BG2EE, any NPC companions you've had in your party before, are reset to game defaults. They only receive some experience points to get closer to your main character.

Items are not transferred from BGEE to BG2EE. Only a very few special ones reappear in the game. For that to happen, they must be on your primary player character (equipped or in the inventory).

[fauxpas]

One playthrough and then done for a new player for the entire saga? Assuming that you are going to forgo modding (You are really losing out by doing so however.) I think I'd roll a straight multiclassed Fighter/Cleric. You don't have to worry about oddities that comes with duel classing and having an extra cleric around is never a bad thing.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

BG2EE also features a "Create Party" button. In several places even. You can use it to import your custom player companions, too. The only prerequisite is that you've export them in any of the games. And since one can rename characters when importing them, one can even fill the party with clones.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

You can even clone the primary player character, who learns special abilities during the games (depending on the reputation level) or import different main characters you've used before, and also the few special items that reappear in BG2EE some time later.

[EmotionallyBroken]

sorcerers(at least when they get fire ball) and monks are OP as ♥♥♥♥ if you're looking for an easy play.

[fauxpas]

Originally posted by Q3C-273:

That makes me feel a lot better. I thought that if I chose the wrong class, I would be going through murder's row for the rest of the game.

No worries on that front, the saga is easy enough that once you get over the learning curve of basic combat you'd have to almost gimp your character on purpose to have real issues, especially if you stick with "Normal" or "Core" difficultity levels.

[EmotionallyBroken]

Originally posted by fauxpas:

Originally posted by Q3C-273:

That makes me feel a lot better. I thought that if I chose the wrong class, I would be going through murder's row for the rest of the game.

No worries on that front, the saga is easy enough that once you get over the learning curve of basic combat you'd have to almost gimp your character on purpose to have real issues, especially if you stick with "Normal" or "Core" difficultity levels.

It is indeed not dark souls : )

[wendigo211]

Originally posted by ImOnlyOneMan:

sorcerers(at least when they get fire ball) and monks are OP as ♥♥♥♥ if you're looking for an easy play.

Monks are powerful in BG 2, but they are probably the weakest class in BG. Low level monks are not easy to play. Sorcerers also require that you know which spells are good and which ones to skip, although I think EE Keeper will let you change your spells if you mess up.

[EmotionallyBroken]

Originally posted by wendigo211:

Originally posted by ImOnlyOneMan:

sorcerers(at least when they get fire ball) and monks are OP as ♥♥♥♥ if you're looking for an easy play.

Monks are powerful in BG 2, but they are probably the weakest class in BG. Low level monks are not easy to play. Sorcerers also require that you know which spells are good and which ones to skip, although I think EE Keeper will let you change your spells if you mess up.

Now that you mention those things, thats probably not a good class for someone whos new xD

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

It's possible to turn on "Story Mode" temporarily, if you're stuck in some fight.

All the reading prior to start a first game may lead to something, but remember that you will also need to level up the NPC companions, so familiarity with their classes will be needed, too.

[EmotionallyBroken]

Originally posted by D'amarr from Darshiva:

It's possible to turn on "Story Mode" temporarily, if you're stuck in some fight.

All the reading prior to start a first game may lead to something, but remember that you will also need to level up the NPC companions, so familiarity with their classes will be needed, too.

What are you even saying?

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Originally posted by ImOnlyOneMan:

What are you even saying?

What do you mean?