High wisdom for rangers

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Rangers don't get extra spells for having a high wisdom, do they? I know it helps with some saving throws, so would it be good to have high (15+), right?

 

According to pure AD&D rules, wisdom of 15 or higher gives a bonus to save vs spell against MIND effects only, like charm person, hold, confusion etc. And a low wis gives penalties. I dp not know if it is implemented on the game correctly though. Perhaps this can explain why Minsc(with his horrible wis) tends to fail his saves a lot.

Plus high dex also gives bonus to save vs spells that require fast moving and balance, such as firaball, lightning bolt etc. I do not know if it is implemented too. The game does not say ANYTHING about this.

Can somebody shed light on this mystery?

 

They're not supposed to. Paladins either. The WIS bonus is only for priests, while rangers and paladins are warriors. Only clerics and druids get the WIS bonus spells.

 

Good. I gave him a 15 wisdom and shoved the extra points in charisma. I know a lot of things aren't implemented from PnP to CRPGs. Thanks, people.

 

So there's really no game mechanics benefit to Will save from a high Wisdom?

(See, I actually played Icewind Dale II before Baldur's Gate II, and that does have benefits to Will saves from high Wisdom. It still confuses me how exactly it works in Baldur's Gate II.)

 

@Western Paladin: IWD II follows the very excellent 3rd Edition DnD rule system whereas Baldurs Gate II being older, follows the 2nd Edition DnD rule system.

In 3rd Ed. all the ability scores have a direct affect on the character in some way, regardless of class...I realise that this is true of 2nd ed. also, but it is to a much lesser extent.

I hope that explains it...

 

Unfortunately WIS doesn't seem to help with saves in BG2.

Basically:

STR: weight, damage and To Hit rolls (also % for bashing locks)

DEX: AC and To Hit (ranged) + thief %s (and ranger's stealth, and bard's pickpocket)

CON: hitpoints.

INT: % to learn spells, number of spells known per level for a wizard, max spell level, lore.

WIS: bonus spells for a divine spellcaster, lore + conditions the use of the Wish spell.

CHA: NPC reactions (along with reputation), barter prices.

High scores in INT, WIS and CHA can trigger certain dialogue options (for instance the "chest" dialogue with the beholder in the Underdark requires high WIS).

What is not implemented (Pnp rules):

STR: bend bars.

CON: system shock survival, resurrection survival.

INT: languages known.

WIS: magical attack adjustment, spell failure.

CHA: number of henchmen, loyalty adjustment.

 

Caradhras, I think the bend bars would be the same roll for bashing locks in PnP.

 

@Klorox:
Actually, there are two different values: Open Doors (rolled on a d20), and Bend Bars / Lift Gates (rolled on percentile dice).

 

And Felinoid gets me again! (I really need to look at books before posting!)

 

"CON: ..., resurrection survival."

that's in the manual, did it not make it to the game?

 

I thought that locks cannot be bashed in BG2? This has never worked for me.

 

@Cúchulainn: You can force some of them, Draw Upon Holy Might helps, I guess nobody does it, except when soloing because you get no XP.

@Hedron: sometimes characters can die permanently (depending on your difficulty setting), but when they're not hacked into pieces you can always resurrect them (even Viconia who has the lowest CON among NPCs can always be revived) there are no limits to the number of times they can be brought back, neither do they lose CON. The fact that it is not implemented in the game makes Khalid's death even more pathetic.

 

In characrter creation, you are best putting that wisdom waaay low. Or 10 if you expect to use lore. Or 18 is you plan on casting wish.

this is of course, if youre not a cleric or druid.

SPOILERS


btw: are there any ill effects if you choose to lose a point of wisdom in spellhold for a ranger or paladin with wisdom as low as possible?

 

@krunchyfrogg:
By Minsc's stats, I'd say no. IMO, they should though.

 

I'm playing a paladin now with a WIS of 15. Does this affect my spellcasting abillity at all?

 

@krunchyfrogg: It doesn't matter, you won't lose your status. Btw if you dual classed before losing a point which would bring you below the requirements for dual classing there would be no consequences.

@Drugar: it doesn't.

 

@Caradhras: thank you for the reply. I think I will build another paladin than and redistribute the points.

 

Drugar: Shadowkeeper is your friend!

Felinoid: That's interesting. In P&P, you can lose your Ranger or Paladin status.

 

IIRC, the minimum wisdom for a pally is 13 and for a ranger is 14. I played a pally with a 17 wisdom and got no addition spells. Sometimes, we old folks forget these things.

@Fel - You aren't alone about Minsc.