What sort of character to play for first time?

[DaHotFuzz]

Bit the bullet and got this bad boy. Stumbled into character creation screen and I'm overwhelmed with all the choices.

There are story unique characters and custom ones. Does choosing one over another offer an objectively better experience for your first play through or does it not matter at all? I know custom characters you can 'create your own' but with unique story ones it seems like there is more hand holding, so to speak.

I want a good story but I also want a lot of freedom to create it along the way. What characters have you guys rolled with first time around?

[Tally]

Origin (unique) characters have much more involvement in the game. They will have special interactions with other characters who have useful info for them, they have objectives to achieve in the game world, etc. So yes, it is best to start with an Origin character. You will still be able to spec them into any class, the choice at the start simply determines your starting learned spells.

Some tips: want to be a smooth talker? level Persuasion. Want to be rich? Lucky Charm or Thievery.

When it comes to the characters themselves... I personally feel like Fane might be the most important/unique. But from what I've seen, every character has pretty good quest involvement and interactions, so I haven't been disappointed yet.

[Råb!d]

Well, a custom one won't have a story that you must try to do. You'll still have a story, it just won't be like the pre-built characters. The next 3 will be prebuilts for sure that you befriend.

The only downside might be that it can be tricky in terms of relationships, but barely so.

In the end, it really is a matter of the type of characters you select them to be. Read the various threads about party mix and what works for your preferred play style. All should work fine. It's well balanced game.

Also, you can respec your characters later in the game indefinitely, so you're not locked in anyway.

[Råb!d]

Originally posted by Tally:

Origin (unique) characters have much more involvement in the game. They will have special interactions with other characters who have useful info for them, they have objectives to achieve in the game world, etc. So yes, it is best to start with an Origin character. You will still be able to spec them into any class, the choice at the start simply determines your starting learned spells.

Some tips: want to be a smooth talker? level Persuasion. Want to be rich? Lucky Charm or Thievery.

When it comes to the characters themselves... I personally feel like Fane might be the most important/unique. But from what I've seen, every character has pretty good quest involvement and interactions, so I haven't been disappointed yet.

Lucky Charm is awesome! Way cool drops to surprise you.

[Quiximo]

go with a story character. The first playthrough is definitely more rich with one. paradoxically, while you might chose the character you like the most, you'll hear less of them if you are them. Choose one who seems cool, then you'll have a chaince to add the others to your party after you start.

[DaHotFuzz]

Originally posted by Garheardt the Black:

go with a story character. The first playthrough is definitely more rich with one. paradoxically, while you might chose the character you like the most, you'll hear less of them if you are them. Choose one who seems cool, then you'll have a chaince to add the others to your party after you start.

When you say "add the others to your party" do you mean other characters as in NPCs? They'll join as NPCs?

[DaHotFuzz]

Originally posted by Tally:

Origin (unique) characters have much more involvement in the game. They will have special interactions with other characters who have useful info for them, they have objectives to achieve in the game world, etc. So yes, it is best to start with an Origin character. You will still be able to spec them into any class, the choice at the start simply determines your starting learned spells.

Some tips: want to be a smooth talker? level Persuasion. Want to be rich? Lucky Charm or Thievery.

When it comes to the characters themselves... I personally feel like Fane might be the most important/unique. But from what I've seen, every character has pretty good quest involvement and interactions, so I haven't been disappointed yet.

Thank you for the detailed response. I am definitely going to consider the undead character... i feel drawn to him and his story. But it's so hard to pick, they all seem quite intriguing.

[Zero]

Originally posted by DaHotFuzz:

Originally posted by Garheardt the Black:

go with a story character. The first playthrough is definitely more rich with one. paradoxically, while you might chose the character you like the most, you'll hear less of them if you are them. Choose one who seems cool, then you'll have a chaince to add the others to your party after you start.

When you say "add the others to your party" do you mean other characters as in NPCs? They'll join as NPCs?

you can recruit the other 6 origin characters as companions. so if i make a custom char, if i want, i can have fane, red prince and lohse as my companions.

[DaHotFuzz]

Originally posted by Zero:

Originally posted by DaHotFuzz:

When you say "add the others to your party" do you mean other characters as in NPCs? They'll join as NPCs?

you can recruit the other 6 origin characters as companions.

That's cool. In combat will they have their own free will or will I control them?

[Zero]

Originally posted by DaHotFuzz:

Originally posted by Zero:

you can recruit the other 6 origin characters as companions.

That's cool. In combat will they have their own free will or will I control them?

you'll control them.

[Tally]

I have to note (and this is slightly spoilery) that Fane is the only one with a truly "evil route" available. Story-wise I liked Lohse, Sebille and the Red Prince the most, so you might want them as companions! No idea about Ifan, haven't had him yet.

[DaHotFuzz]

Originally posted by Tally:

I have to note (and this is slightly spoilery) that Fane is the only one with a truly "evil route" available. Story-wise I liked Lohse, Sebille and the Red Prince the most, so you might want them as companions! No idea about Ifan, haven't had him yet.

Good to know!

I gotta ask, I read online that it's recommended for certain races to play certain classes. Does it really matter which you choose?

I'm considering battlemage for example and it suggests playing as a dwarf or lizard. Why is this?

[Selig]

Originally posted by DaHotFuzz:

Originally posted by Tally:

I have to note (and this is slightly spoilery) that Fane is the only one with a truly "evil route" available. Story-wise I liked Lohse, Sebille and the Red Prince the most, so you might want them as companions! No idea about Ifan, haven't had him yet.

Good to know!

I gotta ask, I read online that it's recommended for certain races to play certain classes. Does it really matter which you choose?

I'm considering battlemage for example and it suggests playing as a dwarf or lizard. Why is this?

If you are playing on Tactician/Honour and want to min/max then it kind of matters. Otherwise, pick whatever race/class combo you feel and Roleplay your wee little heart out!

[Quiximo]

Originally posted by DaHotFuzz:

Originally posted by Tally:

I have to note (and this is slightly spoilery) that Fane is the only one with a truly "evil route" available. Story-wise I liked Lohse, Sebille and the Red Prince the most, so you might want them as companions! No idea about Ifan, haven't had him yet.

Good to know!

I gotta ask, I read online that it's recommended for certain races to play certain classes. Does it really matter which you choose?

I'm considering battlemage for example and it suggests playing as a dwarf or lizard. Why is this?

Dwarves get a dodge bonus and extra health. The health is nice for anyone who plans on being in melee, and the dodge bonus synergizes well with the dual wield talent that gives you another 10% dodge chance. Since battlemage is advertised as a dual wielder, that's probbly why.

Lizards get a breath weapon that scales with inteligence and is a close range attack. Since you'll be close and you'll have inteligence, you can make the most of it.

all said, I don't think battlemages are very effective since they tend to not be very efficient at getting through enemy defences, but if you're set on playing one, those races would certainly have some advantages. My experience so far is that an effective play style isn't dependent on race.

[DaHotFuzz]

Originally posted by Selig:

Originally posted by DaHotFuzz:

Good to know!

I gotta ask, I read online that it's recommended for certain races to play certain classes. Does it really matter which you choose?

I'm considering battlemage for example and it suggests playing as a dwarf or lizard. Why is this?

If you are playing on Tactician/Honour and want to min/max then it kind of matters. Otherwise, pick whatever race/class combo you feel and Roleplay your wee little heart out!

I want a challenge but I also want to enjoy myself. In a week or so I won't have as much time anymore as I do now so I don't want to play on a difficulty that induces any rage, haha. I will probably pick classic so hopefully i won't have to worry much

[Selig]

Originally posted by DaHotFuzz:

Originally posted by Selig:

If you are playing on Tactician/Honour and want to min/max then it kind of matters. Otherwise, pick whatever race/class combo you feel and Roleplay your wee little heart out!

I want a challenge but I also want to enjoy myself. In a week or so I won't have as much time anymore as I do now so I don't want to play on a difficulty that induces any rage, haha. I will probably pick classic so hopefully i won't have to worry much

I started on Classic and felt it's a pretty good start. I'm close to the end of Act 1 (I believe), and have had a couple really REALLY hard fights (could be me just being a noob to the series but after a few failed attempts I figured out a good way to take the fights).

I plan on doing a playthough on Tactican with a different build after this one, then if I'm really feeling like a masochist, I'll play on Honour...