Newbie seeking advice

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I'm basically new to Neverwinter Nights because I just bought it over the Internet. I'm quite intrigued by this game and would like to get some help lol! (Things like character creation and what spells and feats to choose).

I live in Germany but I can speak English very well ^^. I'm actually a translator for tourists but I seem to get around well. See you later.

I also came here because I'm new to these kinds of games and I couldn't have made a better choice it seems.

[ May 07, 2005, 14:06: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

 

Depends if you have the expansions installed or not.

Clerics are probably the most powerful in all such games, followed by wizards, although some melee builds can be deadly as well. Actually, a single-classed paladin can be a real melee monster in the basic NWN Official Campaign with the feats and spells from the expansions. They make the paladin probably the most versatile melee build. Because of the high levels needed for the spells, taking four levels of fighter for Weapon Specialisation is a bad idea, unless it's a non-casting paladin with low Wisdom.

For the Official Campaign, I would suggest a character able to deliver good damage, as way too many creatures have damage reduction and sometimes it's really hard to beat.

 

Yes, if you're new to this game, I recommend a Fighter, Barbarian, or Paladin.

 

No, no, no (sorry everyone)... I recommend playing Ranger lvl 1, Thief lvl x... Why? Well it's not for the combat power (which is decent enough), it's because:

a) I hate having to take Tomi along to open locks and disarm traps...

b) Use Magic Device: this will let you use any class-specific item in the game --monk gloves, druid scimitar, wizard robe, wands, scrolls, etc...

Why have a wizard when you can use every wiz/drd/clr scroll that you find?

I liked this (admittedly overpowered) skill because it meant that I didn't have the problem of finding really cool stuff that I couldn't use...

The best sidekick I had was probably Grimnaw (the monk). I would just always attack whoever he attacked, and get the flanking (sneak-attack) mega-damage bonus. By the end I was getting upwards of 40 damage per hit... Also dual-wielding with the ranger feats means you can use complimentary weapons (ie. flaming rapier, plus dagger of sleep) for strategic effect plus good damage potential... The only downside I experienced was that I couldn't get the Holy Sword (Paladin quest only) and there were a few other side quests (wiz/soc, etc) that I didn't get to do...

 

Some kind of Fighter-type is probably best for the first play, at least until you get used to the game mechanics.

Fighter / Rogue is also a good choice (take Rogue as your first level; you'll get bonus skill points) as it can, indeed, be very frustrating having to rely on bashing open chests, rather then lockpicking.

 

Yeah, Ranger / Rogue is pretty cool. Even better with one level of Shadowdancer.

But Monk would actually be simpler for someone getting started in the game because of all the resistances and the fact you don't even need a weapon.

 

You could try Fighter/Rogue/WeaponMaster, getting the right skills and feats and the extra oomph from great criticals with a high-damage weapon like katana. Add Improved Criticals on top of it and you're going to hack into pieces everything which isn't immune to criticals.

 

Do you have any experience with PnP D&D? If so, I would recommend Wizard. I would not recommend a fighter type unless you have absolutely no PnP experience. The reason is that, while mechanically easy, fighters will often struggle because they gain experience more slowly than the other classes. Also, the only advantage the Fighter has is his surplus of feats. If you are not versed in the feat chains most appropriate for you fighting style, you could end up with a half-baked character that really is very weak.

If you do want a fighter type, then I agree with Chevalier that Paladin is the best choice. Better saving throws, some good immunities and some useful spells make the Paladin much more user friendly than a fighter.

A Rogue is also a class I would not recommend to a beginner. While the Rogue is excellent in experienced hands, they really suffer against opponents with either True Sight or immunity to sneak attacks. One of a Rogue's hardest fights in the game comes near the end of Chapter One, and you will not have enough experience with the game system to handle such a fight so early in your playing history.

If you have some PnP experience, especially with the D&D spell system, the Wizard is the way to go. As strange as it sounds, if run correctly, the Wizard is a better fighter than most fighters at low levels. Once you get to mid-levels you will pick up spells of such destructive power that you will eat through hordes of monsters in a fraction of the time a fighter character would take. If you are interested, I could give more info, such as stats, spell selection, feats, and strategy.

 

I have tried a Paladin, a Rogue/Ranger and a Wizard and all have their merits. Then again, I'm still in chapter 1, so I don't know how the different classes will progress. I'd recommend Paladin too for a first go, I find plain Fighters too limited in any game.

 

For PvM or PvE, I would suggest either a sorcerer or cleric type. With the ability boosting spells and damage reduction spells on, a sorcerer can tank decently around fifth level without having to worry about spell memorization. Also, higher-level sorcerers don't have to guess about how many Time Stops and IGMS's they need to wipe out any foe: their spell list versatility makes them more potent adversaries in the end, though the Wizard's bonus feats are useful. I would recommend a wizard only if you are experienced with the D&D spell system.

That said, a cleric is probably the easiest class to play in the OC. You get a EXP break for being a caster-type at lower levels and with all your buffs on, can defeat most fighter builds with pathetic ease, especially if you possess the War and Trickery Domains so that you can sneak and lockpick when needed and also have Aura of Vitality and Improved invisibility, two of the more useful spells in the game.

 

I'm playing Neverwinter Nights for the first time and as usual (for me) playing a sorcerer. But the fun part is with the new rules is the multi-classing and prestige classes, before i'd started I loaded both the SotU and HoU expansions. My character is in chapter 3 roaming the Mornwood in search of the Words of Power and at present is Sorcerer (10), Rogue (4), Red Dragon Disciple (2). The rogue levels allow me to detect/disarm traps but sadly get no experience for doing so (strange). The RDD class is a wow for a sorcerer.
On a personal note i would never play a game first or any other time as a paladin I hate the class because I believe Paladins are the chosen of a God and as such are usually chosen for a particular task(s) and usually die young; playing as a fighter class is when I play the game at a harder level without magic.