The most valuable NPC to all Parties?

Remove all ads!

Well, when it comes to versatility in classes, I'm a fan of the fighter/mage/cleric. He can buff up in all sorts of ways, use pretty well any item (I mean, there are few items designed just for thieves), and with some scrolls and wands he can use Mage magic with his armor. He can specialize just as well as any non-fighter warrior. I tended to use mine as a spellcaster for the first part of the day, then have him don armor and be a cleric/fighter for a while, and when he's all out of spells, he can still fight well.
Of course, this versatility comes with a price -- later in the game his amazingness drops considerably, though with elven armor, stoneskin, armor of faith, and other such spells (especially in contingencies and sequencers) plus the glory of Crom Faeyr, he is still a magnificent character to have around.

 

Many things to say.

The most versatile class is the rogue, obviously. I won't go any more detailed than that, since the top kit contenders for the spot are pretty much balanced.

The Bard is a little bit of everything, and are supposedly the epitome of true versatility. Individually, his skills will amount to nothing at all - but combining these as only a Bard can will yield surprisingly powerful results.
The F/M/T is more versatile than the Bard, though, but lacks the intensity the Bard can pack after his skills due to high levels and distinct HLA's. An F/M/T will have to sacrifice 18 HLA's for the price of just two of the Bard's, for example.

If you must consider trueclass fighters or mages as versatile at all, then I assume you mean with respect to their own fields of expertise, since given the general perspective these classes don't weigh all that much versatility-wise.

Personally I find Jaheira more versatile than Anomen, since she can take on anti-caster, summoner, healer, tank, bait and disabling roles effectively enough. Anomen has less options but is more focused than Jaheira in several respects.

 

The f/m/t gets enough hlas. He gets about 15 or 16, thats not bad at all.

 

Pity what solo F/M/Ts can't cast quest level mage spells... not that they'll ever need them. It's still nice to clear a room with timestop, improved alacrity and dragons breath x2 followed by a few horrid wiltings.

 

Anyway, a Blade, as compared to any of the bard classes, is basically a fighter bard with a weaker thief skill. But I suppose it is a bit versatile. Looking at the only bard NPC in BG2, Haer'dalis has no problem with keeping up with the other fighters in the group. Couple him with offensive spells and the man could tear through a legion of orcs before taking the death blow.

 

You forgot about the part where he turns Aerie into hyper-tank, a Fire Elemental into a unit more dangerous than your average planetar, or himself into a boss you'll soon find out to be more fearful than Amelyssan, but that's the general case.

Bards are not a bit versatile. As a matter of fact they're just too versatile, as per an F/M/T.
Whether a gamer should powergame the Bard's versatility in a game that allows him to excel at everything given the right conditions is his choice, really.

[ January 30, 2004, 18:45: Message edited by: Scythesong Immortal ]

 

Jaheira.

She compliments my current party perfectly and does everything she does very, very, very well.

 

Bards just have the cheesy ability to overuse their song, their not really that good... I played blade, he certianly cant compare with f/m without his song, and with song any bard can fight just as well as he does.

 

Actually, Stifestrike, my Blade was running through ToB on insane perfectly fine even without using my songs.
The song is simply an added bonus, and it's the Bard's answer to the Mage/Sorcerer's overpowered HLA's. It's what you do when you get pissed off.
Mod-unwise, a Blade can still contend for the top spot without it.

Only the Blade bard can do as he does, no other Bard can. A Skald doesn't even come close. You can read over his advantages, and the implications of this and you'll know why.

Bards not that good? I disagree, since HLA unwise a Blade can be just as good as an F/M.
An F/M is already powergamed by default. So why not powergame a Blade? When both are maxed out without any HLA's, the matter narrows down to the Blade's less number of spell slots. The Blade's spells are more effective, though, since his levels are higher.
HLA's wise, Enhanced Bard Song is just about as cheesy as Timestops + Alacrity + Dragon's Breaths, Comets, Horrid wiltings, etc.
The F/M's fighter HLA's are compensated by simple spells casts at full effectiveness, and an innumerable amount of spike/time traps and Offensive/Defensive Spins. AC may not matter much in ToB, unless you can reach 25+.

The only combination I'd admit to be able to best the Blade at combat in SoA would be the Kensai/Mage, though the Blade has his own specific strengths and when everything else is considered he's as good.

[ January 31, 2004, 09:32: Message edited by: Scythesong Immortal ]