improving stats, BG1 char to BG2, dual classing, etc.

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I'm just about to start BG2 both SoA and ToB (waiting for it to arrive in the mail). I just finished beating BG1 for the 1st time even though I've owned it for six years or so... anyway, I've been reading a lot of the guides here and have come up with some questions that I hope some of you may answer:

I intend to import my BG1 character to BG2. I totally maxed him out experience wise (did everything including Tales of the Sword Coast). But I noticed by using Gatekeeper that my character's experience is above the 161,000 cap, I guess the game keeps counting internally... Anyway, when I import my character to BG2, will he automatically be set to exp cap I got to or will he be given all the exp that Gatekeeper claims I have?

Second, about Dual classing: I started playing BG1 with just the intention of finishing it, not going on to BG2. Of course, that utterly failed and I can't wait to begin all of BG2. Having said that, when I created my character, a human fighter, I geared his stats to really fighter heavy stuff. By the end, after getting all the tomes I could find, my stats would up being Str 17, Dex 19, Con 19, Int 13, Wis 13, Chr 13. After reading a bit about BG2, looks like I screwed up in that I've really limited myself in dual classing.

So as I understand it, dual classing is the "way to go", "the way the game was designed to be played," etc. Is this really true?

Are there ways to increase my character's stats in BG2 (like the tomes in BG1)?

I've realized that I've limited myself to becoming some sort of fighter/thief. I haven't found many guides talking about that combo. Anyone have any experience with it?

I honestly would rather skip the thief and be a fighter/mage, fighter/cleric or something else, but I'd have to use Gatekeeper to screw around with my stats (no, I won't totally cheat, I'd move points from Int, Wis, and Chr accordingly, things that didn't totally affect my character or my game in BG1). I keep hearing that fighter/mage is a lot of fun.

And that's what I'm aiming for: fun. I realize this game is huge and I don't think I have enough time to play through it a second time around (other stuff to do and other games to play). Heck, it was four years between the first time I tried to beat BG1 to now when I finally beat it (with a much better character than the first time around, don't get me started...). So I want to make my first experience really enjoyable.

Garcias for any advice!

 

You will start BG2 with that 161,000 xp, but of course you can use Shadowkeeper to add the missing points if you want to. If you have maximum hitpoints, those might drop as well when you import your character.

Dualclassed fighter/thief is IMO a good (and lethal) combination: huge backstabs and useful special abilities later on, for example. Fighter/mage or fighter/cleric could be however more efficient in the long run. Remember to choose a good kit when importing: berserker can be nice when dualled to cleric, and kensai/mages are extremely powerful. I haven't played kensai/thief, but i guess it's ok? Also you will get to relocate your weapon profincies when importing: choose wisely. If you are going to dual to a thief, katana might be your weapon of choice...

If I remember correctly, there aren't any tomes in BG2, but there are some other ways to permanently boost your stats. Play and find out!

 

If you intend to play with a party, then whatever combination of classes is good. Because your party members will provide with additional skills and spells.

In general, arcane spellcasters are the most powerful class in SoA and ToB, the Sorcerer being the first of them. Yet, so I heard, BG1 is tough for a mage/sorcerer.

There are ways to increase your stats in BG2, but only in the end(trials in Hell). If you install the expansion, ToB, then you will have additional way to increase your stats(the Machine of Lum the Mad in Watcher's Keep). I've heard of particular mods which add tomes like the ones in BG1. And there are also items which grant permanent stat increase while equipped, like for instance, the Gauntlets of Dexterity, which set DX to 18, or the Belt of Stone Giant Strength, which sets strength to 20.

 

1. As mentioned above the game sets the experience to 161k, regardless of whether you maxed out your xp in bg1 or exported a lvl1 character. This corresponds to a lvl8 fighter.

2. Dual Classing is one option that you can do, it isn't the "way to go", a pure fighter (such as your own) will be extremely powerful as it is, and it could be argued that multiclassing is more powerful that dualclassing (there are plenty merits for single, multi and dual class characters)

I wouldn't count on it for the purposes of dual classing, those that are available are fairly late in the game and are fairly minor at best.

I've usually gone multi, but yes, it is pretty powerful - you can backstab with the THAC0 of whatever level your fighter was before he was dualled. Just hide in shadows, backstab, run away (preferably with boots of speed), hide in shadows again and backstab again!

A plain fighter is plenty of fun though, and not being able to dual into a cleric or mage will not impair you in any way. Have fun!

 

Dual classing is nice, but I wouldn't screw with the stats of your current class to do it unless you want to. The game is completely doable with a vanilla fighter, and with those stats your character should be pretty powerful. Just make sure you have a decent arcane, and divine spell caster in the group to remove buffs, and to buff your own party.

 

If you play with the 'Rolles' mod, he has one tome for sale in each of the 6 attributes (increases attribute by one, like the tomes in BG1). That will not make a huge difference to your character, but you may find it useful.

If you decide to adjust your stats up and down in SK, it is worth knowing that you can compensate for average strength and charisma pretty early in the game. You'll find out how without me needing to give things away.

Fighter turned to thief is a very good choice. I have played it several times and it could be said to be my favourite combo (though these days I'd probably play beserker turned thief for the immunities when beserk). It also fits nicely in with how the game unfolds. The best level to turn to thief is at 9th, because you have gained the maximum from the high hit points that fighters get.

If you want to play a fighter dualled to mage, then in the future you can try a Kensai kit as a fighter. You would have to install tutu in BG1 to play the kit there. Kensai have no armour, but get other benefits, and combine very nicely with a mage.

Remember that when you switch classes you will be very weak offensively. The other side of that particular coin though is you will gain levels very, very, quickly; especially if you only have one or two companions at this point.

Messing with the BG game is great fun. There are loads of things you can do to keep the game fresh when you replay, but like most people on thius forum, I would recommend playing the game without much tweaking the first time around.

 

A fighter/thief dual class can be very powerful, if you like the hide/backstab/hide again playing style. A Kensai 13/Thief X is a very powerful combination; I had mine equiped with a quarterstaff (one from ToB that's very powerful) and he'd manage backstabs of about 130 on average, though with critical hits of up to 330. It's fun chunking your enemies on the very first hit.

Regardless, play with whatever you like, it's meant to be fun anyway. And if you're playing with a party, you'll never be short on power, whatever your choice of class for your PC.

 

Thanks for all the replies.

I don't plan on using any of the mods, and I definitely plan on using a full party because I'm all about the storyline and role playing experience.

So fighter/thief doesn't sound that bad, although I was never much into the thief part of rpgs, but we'll see. Maybe I'll do that or I'll go through as just a plain old fighter or take one of the kits.

Anyway, if anyone has any more suggestions, keep throwing them at me!

 

I love the fighter/thief but I usually multi over dualling with a Half-Orc (no thieving bonuses but 19 STR and Con) probably not the most logical class but he was a monster at bhackstab, even in candlekeep (took him thru tutu) and if he couldn't pick a lock I guess he just sat on it as I had little trouble with that.
Thieves level up so fast they do make a good dual though, just wondering what weapons your fighter used as you may need to change up your fighting style a little until your old abilities get back (a fact i've always wondered about from a RP perspective, does the thief just lose knowledge about locks and traps he spent years learning because he picked up a bigger sword or spellbook? )

 

I've had lots of fun playing a wizard slayer more than once. It's a great character and can be quite powerful in it's own right. It's not a bad way to go for a pure fighter. specially when your taking a group along with you.