Powergaming Jaheira

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Oh, true, I didn't mean that she couldn't hold up the nastiest foes, more that I prefer the damage-output advantage that a single-class warrior tend to have over her when taking them on. The less time they are alive, the less damage my party takes overall. Still, different playing styles and all that.

 

I've recently begun using Jaheira in my party, and she had the highest AC (-6) until Anomen found the Gloves of Dexterity (he's now -9). Still, with Iron Skin she's a great defensive warrior who I can rely on to stay alive, and with Belm and Insect Plague I can count on her to do output reliable (though not lethal) damage.

She's probably not suitable for the sole frontliner, but she's capable of being a great support fighter. Summon Fire Elemental also comes to mind.

 

Insect Plague and even Insect Swarm make any mage battle much easier. Just cast it on one of the low level (and low saving throw) henchmen in the battle. I understand the Fire Elemental is one of the best summons, I just prefer to not use summoned creatures.

I still say she's better with the Impaler -- get her proficiencies in spears and two handed weapons and she'll be able to use one of the best weapons in ToB.

 

I tend to give Jaheira either a club or a scimitar since I like her to have a shield for maximum armour class. She doesn't deal out damage nearly as well as my barbarian, but she can sure avoid taking hits -- especially with ironskins. Give her a strength belt or gauntlets and you have a very effective fighting force.

Had this topic been brought up a couple months ago, I would've said to dump her and get someone else.

 

Noo, do not dump her, she is a very versatile and powerful NPC!

Club and shield is the way to go until much later in the game. That +3 acidic club is just tailored for her to use, I never have her wield scimitars, she is much of a 'fight with blunt weapons and sharp words' type to me. Dual wielding is also a big no-no as it takes too many level ups for her to learn how to wield two weapons effectively in combat. Belm is nice but not too hot for me as it does have a lower enchantment level.

For ranged combat, sling of seeking+bullets+2 with a belt of x giant STR is a very lethal combo, and it is very easy to get these items too, the damage output is amazing for a 'toy' weapon! Improve haste her, activate Death Strike and she will be taking out (even improved) mind flayers swiftly and effectively with her sling, from a safe distance. Plus she always gets the best shield, which helps immensely in defense in earlier parts of the game.

However, later in ToB, a shield's meager AC bonus will not make much of a difference, and extra attack power is needed to keep up with the increasingly tougher enemies, so I give her much more nasty and powerful two-handers, Ixil's Spike, (upgraded) Impaler, Bloodbane+5 (excellent throwing spear from tactics mod) or Staff of Ram:these weapons all cause havoc and massive damage when combined with Greater Whirlwind or Improved Haste+Critical Hit combos!

 

I replayed BG1 while a mod I wanted to use for my PC (Stuff of the Magi) was updated. So on my replay I ended up giving her 2 pips in clubs, 2 in scimitars, and 2 in dual wielding. I agree with the idea that points in shield specialization isn't worth it since she'll mostly be in melee anyway.

Anyway, do you think early in BG2 I should finish out dual wielding or let that wait until later on in the game when her THAC0 improves and have her learn sling in the begining of BG2?

 

Club-wielding powergamers:

Save the Blackblood+3 for enemies that require a +3 weapon. The Gnasher+2 does more damage.
Jaheira + Gnasher + Belm + STRbelt + Ironskins = teh uber.

 

Okay...apart from mods, I don't see how Jaheira can have enough *s to pop into two-weapon fighting for it to be useful until the very end of the game (post-Underdark), and by then it hardly matters. How do you guys manage to do it? Personally, I still prefer popping shields on her, as she seems to be a better defensive fighter with Iron Skin (she survived the Guarded Compound fight relatively unscathed).

 

STRbelt tends to compensate for THAC0 penalties incurred by dual-wielding without full pips.

Note: there's absolutely nothing wrong with going full-defensive on Jaheira and using a shield; certainly not up until Ironskins and a STRbelt become available. It's just that with Ironskins and a STRbelt in the mix then going full-offensive (*) is devastating. You don't need that extra AC because stuff is very, very dead long before the skins are worn down.

* Dual-wielding Gnasher+Belm is my preference ... of course, the same argument about (Ironskins+STRbelt)>Shield also applies to those who prefer (eventually) to use staves or spears (the Impaler is great).

 

I'm planning on using Shadowkeeper at the start of BG2 to make her match her BG1 self. So she'll have 2 pips in scimitars, clubs, and dual wielding from the get go.

 

Club/Shield early, Spears in ToB.

 

i always have her wering 2 scimitars of some sort, i don't really like the look of the scimitar+club....

never tried her with a spear, got a planned kai spearman, but this is not untill i finish fallout 2

 

I finally got Belm today and have been having fun using that and a scimitar +1 in the offhand or a shield. Since I don't have a magic shield for her yet I dual wield more often. Once I get one of those tasty magic shields she may take a more defensive role.