Solo poll

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I wanted to solo IWD2 and I was hoping you guys could suggest some really nice class for me to solo with.

Here's what I'm looking for...

1) Spellcasting abilities (else it becomes boring quickly)
2) Good powergaming capabilities
3) Good equipment choices (so I have something to look forward to)
4) Challenging gameplay...

And I hate the Svirfneblin monk...dont even think about suggesting him...a short guy running around beating the sh*t out of half dragons is ridiculous.

Anyway, leave your suggestions guys...too lazy to make it in poll form...

 

So, you want spellcaster... there are four primary spellcasting classes: wizard, sorcerer, cleric and druid. Bard has almost access to many spells, but it is surely difficult class to solo.

Good race choice for cleric is aasimar or female drow. You could take also some paladin or fighter levels.

Druid are special: they have lots of unique, interesting spells. Again, some levels of other class (probably fighter, ranger, barbarian, or even monk) would help that character a lot.

Wizards are quite challenging, since you have to wait for higher level scrolls. But maybe paladin/wizard, rogue/wizard or fighter/wizard could do it better.

Sorcerers are very powerful solo characters, and in my opinion they become boring very quickly.

I hope this helps a bit

 

A drow sorcerer x/paladin 2 meets your first three criteria but not the fourth. This is a very powerful character that is nigh unstoppable.

 

Well...I must say I like the Sorc/Pally x/2 idea a lot...but I was thinking...what if I made it a Palading 10/ Sorc X character?

I will be using level squatting to get the most out of the experience and reach lvl 30 hopefully by Dragon's Eye. Also, the spellcasting doesnt improve in terms of new spells etc etc much beyond level 20, and the addition of 10 to DC wouldn't be that big a deal...so, I was thinking the Pal 10/Sorc XX character would be much better.

Would you guys tell me how the BAB, HP, saving throws etc of this guy would differ from Tassadar's Pal 2/Sorc X?

Also, what should the other details be? Like Race, Feat selection etc etc. If you guys would leave your suggestions behind, it would be great.

Cheers!

 

I would suggest a paladin of mystra/specialist wizard with high AC in mind for the choice of powergaming. A paladin 2/sorcerer will most likely end up more powerful at the end, but due to the lack of flexibility with his spell selection, you will probably run into difficulties mid-game, particularly chapter 1, where the ability to choose spells is very important.

Alternative, you can go with fighter/specialist wizard. The difference is you can't take advantage of a certain setup wherein you get all the spells despite being a specialist, but if you don't plan on using that, then it's feats and weapon specialization vs. paladin bonuses. There are a few points where being fearless really helps, but there are also certain points where you'd wish you had that feat earlier.

 

I would have to suggest the same thing as Hojo Jojo. Those characters get very powerful with the right buffs and feats.
And I know of one more person who would agree and he can also provide with more specific information on how to build him/her right.

Now dont you chev?

 

Of course I do.

The first step is giving him a name which is a translation of chevalier. Otherwise, he just won't rock.

The link to the topic about my character is here: http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=14;t=001847

I think it should help you. To some extent, it will work for fighter, ranger and barbarian wizard or sorcerer multiclasses. To some extent, also for cleric/wizards who fall behind in base melee abilities but can achieve more when it comes to buffs, so long as the stats are decent (And you need no charisma! WIS and INT for casting, INT also giving you nice skills, the rest can go to physical stats). Perhaps also for rogue/wizards (sorcerers). You would need several adjustments for each, though.

Your paladin/wizard doesn't have to have the same stats as mine. Wisdom 10 will keep keep you able to casting, since you will get a potion of holy transference (+2 WIS for -1 DEX), and +1 WIS and STR from Holy Avenger quest. Wisdom 13 is what you need to cast all spells you can get from paladin class in paladin/wizard combo. The rest is under that link

 

Gee...I'd forgotten all about your Pally/Wiz Chev.

But I still need to know whether its better to have 10 Paladin levels or 2...

I've decided to go with the Paladin Of Mystra/ Diviner combo...mostly because Diviners get all spells except Conjuration, whose spells I can live without anyway.

Another thing, I would like to take as many Paladin levels as possible to beef up my character's melee abilities, but I fear I am not ready to compromise on lvl 9 spells either.

At what level do specialist wizards get 3 spells to cast? 1 is for Executioner's Eyes, the other is for Meteor Swarm, and the last for Wail of the Banshee.

Now, how many Paladin levels can I squeeze in and still have those spells?

 

With a solo, you will probably end up with levels in the mid 20s. Consider stopping at L8 paladin (for fiendslayer) or L6 paladin (for +2 from DUHM). Either way, you should still be able to get L9 spells, though with 8 levels, you won't have many casts of them.

 

Hojo Jojo, that is a problem I was trying to tackle. The amount of XP I get is reduced by quarters and halves per level up. I've been level squatting since I hit Pal / Wiz 4/4 and the XP is a pittance...(FYI, I'm in the Goblin Fortress)

I've now decided to take two more levelups of Paladin for the better BAB and then lvl squat all the way through the Ice Temple, or if I'm feeling munchkin-ish, through Fell Wood as well.

How about the classic ploy of adding in lvl 1 characters? They'd get the average party level down...and when they start leveling up as well...I dunno...kill the buggers I suppose. Like apprentices joining up but not able to take the heat!

That should let me hit lvl 30. And I have Weidu's mod which gives a little exp no matter what lvl you are...I think you get 10 xp for killing a goblin at lvl 20 or something like that.

Paladin lvl 8 huh? How many attacks will the character have at the end of it?

Will casting Tenser's Transformation give him an extra attack...because if the BAB progresses as per the spell, he SHOULD get the extra attack according to the table if caster level is high enough.

I just need 3 or 4 castings of lvl 9 spells...I'm willing to make up for the rest by getting heaps of Int...egutting all my bonus ability points into INT, wearing INT boosting equipment, etc etc.

About the other stuff I mentioned earlier, I'd appreciate it if people could give me some feedback.

Cheers!

 

Depends for what purpose. Level 1 is enough for the very basics, level 3 gives you everything except casting or fiendslayer elligibility that does not depend on levels. Level 4 gives you a spell if your wisdom is high enough, but you'd be better off with a cleric level for that. Besides, who cares about a single spell, or two. Exactly ten levels of paladin doesn't seem a good idea. Cutting it earlier is more profitable. Or going for an even split.

If you're going to cut your paladin advancement at some level, you might wish to try paladin/sorcerer instead. First, you will have more brawls to survive the initial hard bits, like the stockade battle, which is a pain in the ass if you have a paladin/wizard with 10 CON. Sorcerers make better use of charisma than wizards. Therefore, your ubersorcerous charisma will also affect your saves and laying hands. Add Eagle's Splendour spell and voila, behold your saves.

Heh, you could ask me why I didn't do that. Well, I had to do something with a high-INT paladin solo character, and I wanted to be able to advance as a paladin, to have my paladin class fully active. And I wanted paladin casting, for same reasons.

If you decide to cut your paladin levels early, we could discuss some beneficial mix-ins of other classes.

Yes, I chose Diviner for the same reason. Other schools may not be that bad, if someone is used to summoning and enchanting rather than protecting yourself well and dealing damage on your own.

You need level 17 to be able to cast 9th level spells at all. Level 19 would be the one when you get 3 (sorcerer already has six here).

Depends on how you play. I had an Aasimar and was able to get 26 levels (27 level worth of XP) without HoF mode.

Alas, that works only for clerics. Paladins have their casting level halved. If it's +1 per 3 casting levels, you need L12 for a +2, at which point arcane spell buffs are much more profitable

 

When you set it out like that...thanks a ton Chev. Oh, one more thing...I'm already in the Goblin Fortress. Would you recommend I go for Character Arbitration and make him a Sorc? Coz I still have only four wizard levels...wouldn't be too much of cheating, besides I don't really mind.

And, would you recommend cutting off the Paladin levels at lvl 8 or 11? 8 is for Fiendslayer, 11 is for slightly better BAB and an extra attack.

 

Wow. Right when I saw the topic title the first thing I thought was "Deep Gnome Monk". I have one of those soloing and he is insanely good. But to help, I'd go for levels in sorcerer too.

 

1. Don't go with L3. With the 3rd level of paladin, you get a L1 turn undead, which can't turn anything, and a remove disease once per day, but since paladins are immune to diseases from L1, it's worthless.

2. A wizard gets 2 L9 spells at L18. Add the one from being a specialist, and you have 3 casts at L18. On a side note, wizards max out on L9 spells at L20 with 4 base casts.

3. Since you lose a BAB from being a wizard if you go from L20 to L19, it negates the gain from an extra level of paladin (not to mention causing you to lose wizard spell duration, dice, and 1 BAB from tenser). The distribution would have to be paladin 12/wizard 18 to get that extra attack at 1 BAB.

 

Yeah, I settled on the 12/18 distribution myself Hojo Jojo. Thanks to everyone for helping out.

Cheers!

 

Depends really on your roleplaying vision. Power-wise, 12 is surplus here. Another thing is that you will end the game 13/13 or, in your case 12/14 with an aasimar, add one level for non-ECL classes.

 

I settled on lvl 8 for the paladin half, seeing as he would get four attacks eventually and five with haste...

And I was level squatting like a power hungry munchkin...which I am... ! Anyway, the point is, my Pal/Sorc is at lvl 8/19 right now! He just got Executioner's Eyes, Horrid Wilting and Delayed Blast Fireball a couple level ups ago and now he is kicking ass!

But I get like 80 xp for killing anything, which I realised after keeping a save, and just checking out how many levels I had stored up. As of now, the character is level squatting at I forgot which level, but he got Tenser's and Antimagic Field.

I was thinking I'll take all my lovely saved up levels right after exiting the Underdark and fighting with those two wizards.

Thanks everyone for helping out with this particular solo.

Any suggestions for the next one?

 

Eh, Tenser's also gives you additional attacks for its bonus. Mordenkainen's sword sort of duplicates that effect, since it's been made to allow wizards actually to hit Combining Tenser's and Mordenkainen's together with some other buffs gives attack bonus exceeding +50, which is downright uber.

The next one? Sure. I'll tell you in brief about some of my future plans for nice characters:

Fighter(4)/sorcerer(x). Elven. Female. Specialising in longsword and perhaps bows. Spell penetration, greater evocation focus. Favourite spells include Mordenkainen's Sword and Tenser's Transformation. Spirit of flame is practically a must-have for solo spellcasters.

Paladin (some)/painbearer(many). Swords, maces. Fiendslayer, Heretic's Bane, the rest as you like, but I'd suggest spellcasting feats if applicable. A guy who was a paladin once, but later on discovered a deeper priestly vocation. He may still get paladin levels, though, if need be. If the switch from paladin to cleric were to be more apparent, more final and more dramatic - an undead-hating morninglord might do.

Drow fighter/rogue/wizard. Those guys are simply meant to be effective. And well, they are.

Ranger/rogue/fighter/(barbarian) - even split. Why? Well, just a versatile warrior, perhaps a deadly mercenary. Suffering psychic trauma from lack of focus

Bard with 4 fighter levels and weapon specialisation.

Dexterity-based paladin with rogue and ranger levels. Might as well be rogue(3)/ranger(3)/fighter(4)/paladin(x). Be careful about the sequence. Aasimar will make it without XP penalties on the way by simply taking paladin levels last. Other races will suffer.

Dexterity based barbarian with a rogue(3)/ranger(3)/fighter(4) addon.

Fighter/rogue even multi. In memory of 2E's uber fighter/thieves.

Barbarian/wizard, or /sorcerer. Tenser's, Mordenkainen's and rage in one. Well, that's technically referred to as uber

Etc etc. I'm not giving many BIO details since your characters are to be your characters and these will also be used by me and probably made downloadable somewhere, so why bother. Yea, I'm planning some pack of themed parties - some levelled up through DK2 or in-game cheats where difference in levels is necessary. I can drop you a line when that's done.

 

Very...original ideas Chev.

Just kidding...I dunno...those didn't really grab me very much...I was thinking a Deep Gnome Dreadmaster of Bane/Illusionist. Wicked RP possibilities and no more frustrating stuff like

"I'm a goody two-shoes so I dont want that shiny new Ring of Protection +3 though I worked my a** off for it...oh what do you say? I can take it anyway? Gee thanks Nathaniel..."

Dreadmasters are cool...so I guess I'll try one of those out next.

Oh, BTW, the Pal/Sorc is in the Severed Hand now at lvl 8/22 already, having just kicked Saablic Tan's you-know-what and will probably meet up with Isair and Madae tomorrow.

Cheers!

 

Make screens of the execution