Playing with a Dwarf

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I've been considering to start a new BG game for a while now. Unfortunately a couple of my previous attempts to take a character through the whole trilogy ended usually in the middle of SoA so I'm going for something different now.

The idea is to try a Dwarf. They have always been my favorite fantasy race but strangely enough I never made a dwarven character in BG. Sadly the game doesn't exactly favor the bearded folk much so I would like to ask you guys for some advise.

First of all which class to choose? There's really not much here to work with, beside a plain (boring) fighter and a thief (which I find hard to imagine being a Dwarf roleplaying wise) there's only a cleric, a barb, F/C and F/T multi. From all these F/C somehow seems interesting, but I don't know... are there any custom made kits out there that would go well with dwarves? Something crazy and unique? Or maybe some SK combination that wouldn't break the rules that much? I want to go heavy on roleplaying here, so something grumpy, axe-wielding, good aligned and ale-loving (I plan to get drunk at every tavern my party passes by ).

Now for the party, I didn't like the Bioware dwarves that much, too evil and too money grabbing for my taste. I will probably go for Minsc, he should get along well with my Dwarf, Imoen as she's integral to the story and probably Jaheira as a romantic interest (guess dwarves would appreciate her hard, bossy nature). That's two more slots left. Any custom made NPCs that would fit here?

Then equipment. Not sure how good are those fan made item packs. Anything geared towards dwarves that's not overpowered? I'll be using SCS 1&2 so I would like to add some new items into the game.

 

Go for a F/C and dual wield warhammers. Crom Faeyr and Runehammer is the perfect combo.
And dwarves can't have any romances, so Jahs is out of the question if you want to romance her.

 

I'd also go with the F/C, or make a Berserker/Cleric dual-class. Depends on what you want out of your character. I'd probably go with the multi-classed F/C.

As for romances, there are mods out there that allows you to romance even if you're a dwarf, halfling or half-orc.

Regarding NPC's:

* F/C
* Minsc
* Jaheira
* Either Aerie, though I personally dislike her and you already got enough divine spellpower, or a custom made Sorcerer, F/M or simply Wizard.

*SPOILER WARNING REGARDING IMOEN*
I don't know if you've ever played through SoA, but I'd go with Jan Jansen until you get back Imoen and then just do the ol' switcheroo.

 

Expanding on what spetznaz said, you could use SK to have a Berserker/Cleric multi-class instead of a dual, if you so wanted.

 

Ease of use mod fixes that

Are dwarves able to dual-class? I though only humans could... dual wielding warhammers sounds ok but how's the damage since warhammer is a 1d4 only weapon? I know that most damage comes from STR bonuses and other stuff but still, 1d4 is a small roll...

As for Aerie, I do like here myself but I'm sure a regular dwarf would just punch her after the second "my poor wings" banter

Don't worry about spoilers, I've cleared SoA at least 10 times before.

 

Using DK is close to powergaming. I do believe he said he wants to rely on roleplaying.
I wouldn't suggest using other clerics in the party. So you could go for another custom made character capable of using longswords, like an elven fighter/mage or a fighter/thief. As for NPCs, Minsc should fit in any party, Imoen the same for roleplaying purposes, Mazzy might be a good adition as well as Keldorn if you want someone to use Carsomyr.

 

That would have been in the same paragraph as his stated willingness to use SK, would it?

No they can't. I'm afraid it is either multi or single class for you.

 

Well spotted Decados I would like to avoid using SK whenever possible. So far in all my years of BG playing I've only used it to change Minsc to Berserker class. I just mentioned it to leave space for a possible fun class combo that would really fit a dwarf well.

Right, I'll go for multi F/C then (unless someone knows of a good fan made kit out there ). I think Return to Trademeet mod had dozens of kits available but I can't really remember if any would fit here *makes a mental note to check it out*

And I might have explained the "custom made NPCs" wrong. I was thinking of fan made NPC mods (like Kelsey and Keto) and not additional multi-player characters. If there isn't anything appropriate there I could probably fill the party with Mazzy and Jan for more short people support.

 

I can't think of a suitable kit off the top of my head; I'm pretty sure there is a dwarf-only one (a Battlerager) in a kit pack someplace, but it is unsurprisingly a lot like the Berserker kit.

If memory serves, Return to Trademeet is a total conversion mod, so you would, in effect, be playing a different game with it installed. Perhaps you are thinking of The Darkest Day? If so, much of the content is below average. Anecdotally, I think I tried out one of the paladin kits- it was supposed to protect against psionics. Turns out it got stunned by the first Mind Flayer we came across.

 

I'm sorry for my ignorance regarding dual classing; I'm so into NWN2 atm, that's my excuse

Divine casters are not to be underestimated, but having Jaheira and playing F/C will suffice.

Haer'Dalis is also an option to take into consideration. The Blade is an awesome class and offers some variation to creating a F/M. His only problem is his low constitution. He's still very powerful though and has some nice banters. A role-playing favourite of mine.

F/C
Minsc
Jaheira
Haer'Dalis
Jan / Yoshimo -> Imoen
Edwin, he's evil, but has some nice banters too / Sorcerer/Mage (Wild Mage is always "fun" )

SK'ing isn't always "non-role playing" since IMO a dwarf could be a for example a Wizard Slayer or even an outcast Mage or a dwarf raised by magic users. Every race could be a Ranger, good or evil.

 

I've just checked the RTT kits (it is a total conversion but you can install the kits as a separate mod) and of course there is nothing there that would fit a dwarf. They have interesting halfling only kits, gnome only, elf only, human only, but yes, not a single dwarf only kit. Guess I'm stuck with F/C.

Ok so the party is:
PC - F/C
Minsc
Jaheira
Jan Jansen
Imoen
Mazzy

4 fighters, 2 healers, 2 mages, 2 thieves... should be ok. There's still of course a question of using some NPC mods but they would have to be really good (I've only tried Saerileth so far and didn't quite like it).

I agree, pity how the dwarves are restricted in this game...

What about all those items packs out there? Anything suitable in them for a F/C dwarf?

 

Well, as inspiration for one one of my run-throughs, my wife is pretty short and she wields a mean wooden spoon, so I went with a dwarven berserker dual-wielding hammers.

Just kidding, dear...

 

Try to get Fade. That's one worthy NPC mod IMO. Jan could be replaced with Yoshimo just before you go to Spellhold to make room for Imoen once you get there. Or you could try Tashia if you're more into arcane spellcasting.
And there's also the Alora option to improve your shorter people party status.

 

Fade is good (one of my favourite NPCs actually), but be warned: she doesn't have ToB content and will not for the immediate future.

 

A Dwarf F/C is a wonderful character from BG1>ToB. A Dwarf F/C balances out the standard BG1 party very well (F/C, Imoen, Jaheira, Khalid, Minsc, Dynaheir). In BGII, it's just as easy:

Dwarf F/C, Minsc, Jaheira, Imoen, Jan, Keldorn.

You can drop Keldorn and Jan for a 4 man power crew.

 

@ Klorox - This party feels more like a ToB party (heavy melee based), although four men partys are very good since they gain levels faster.

SoA is more of a casters game, especially arcane IMO. Jan is very versatile and one of my favourite characters, even non-banterwise. He's fairly good with a decent crossbow, gets high level spells, gets additional spell slots due to beeing an illusionist, can backstab and he's the only NPC who levels up throughout the saga.

With Jaheira and a F/C you got enough divine casters, but having only Imoen as Arcane.. I'd don't like the sound of that. Of course, it's not a problem that makes the game too hard or anything, but Arcane magic is so powerful in SoA which equals fun for the whole family. Aerie isn't really a wise choice since she's a C/M.

I'd go with F/C, Minsc, Jaheira, Jan, Imoen, Sorcerer or Fighter/Mage. Actually, I think I'm gonna start a new save with those myself

 

I think I'm addicted to Inquisitors. If my PC isnt one, then Keldorn is in my crew. I think his dispel magic and true sight abilities are some of the most useful in the game, more so even than timestop.

That could be a sign of an unbalanced kit I suppose.

 

This title is wrong in so many ways....

Go with the fighter/cleric. After doing the appropriate temple quest, sk in the cleric kit. I think Mazzy is an excellent choice. You may want to add Korgan for a while with Mazzy -- they have some great conversations. You can always sk in more xp for Minsc when you pick him back up.

 

R/C dwarf is hella fun, iv'e soloed one.

and as far as npc's go with who you want especially RP wise, you can beat the game no matter what npc's or class you chose.

but as a swarf i would generally pick melee oriented.

R/C
Minsc
Imoen
Jan

1½ fighter 1½ mage ½ cleric and ½ theif

 

Wow a lot of posts, thanks everyone

That's exactly what I was asking Balle, which NPCs would go well with a dwarf for RPing. It's really not a problem to beat the game with any party, even if there's only one mage. I guess I will try out Fade, to see something new. And if I lack arcane power I could always put Edwin in since he's interesting with just about anyone

Inquisitors make the game hardly a challenge so I try to avoid them

But I could really use some advice with those item packs guys.