Why a halfling Cavalier?

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First: Why not?

This is escpecially for Caleb & R´Syil to allow them to learn about the secrets of powergaming character creation This brief overview should give you a short overview on my opinions on powergaming caracter creation and finally why I choose a halfling cavalier:

I - Basics:

1. Choose the right race for your char - every race offers some special advantages for powergaming, as there are:
-Human: Can be dualclassed - here the first class can be a kit, can be paladins & monks
-Halfelf: Can be multiclassed, infravision
-Elf: Can be multiclassed, offer dex-19 but con-17, so very good with ranged weapons, infravision; good thieving ability race boni
-Dwarf: Very good saving throws (basically the same as the hlflings), con-19 but dex-17 - so in disadvantage as thieves, though they get best trap skill boni, so I´d make them a pure thief for they *need* max abilities to overcome their dex-17
-Halfling: Very good saving throws, dex-19, str-17, infravision - predestined for ranged weapons. Additionally best stealth/ thieving ability race boni
-Gnome: int-19 so they are good mages though restricted to be illusionists, wis-17
-Half-Orc: str-19 and con-19


2. Choose your class
-Fighters there are Kensai (melee only)/ Wizard-Slayer/ Berserker
-Monk melee character fighting unarmed - impressive advantages at high levels
-Barbarian "Wild" fighters -cool
-Rangers there are Beastmasters/ Archers (best missile weapon char - dex-19 a must)/ Stalker
-Paladins Cavalier (melee only - specialised on dragons/ demons)/ Undead-Hunter (specialised, yes, on undead)/ Inquisitor (specialised on mages); all have improved rescue throws and nice special abilities)
-Cleric Priest of Lathander/ Helm/ Talos - each kit has nice special abilities
-Druid Shapeshifter/ Totemic Druid/ Avenger
-Thief Assassin (can use poison weapons)/ Swashbuckler (no backstabbing but -2 AC)/ Bounty Hunter (can set improved traps); some races offer useful thieving ability boni
-Bard -Blade/ Jester/ Skald - suck but can cast magic
-Mage -Specialised mages can learn and cast more spells but are restricted to their school of magic
-Sorcerer -Learns spells at level up and not from srolls - can cast more spoells than a regular mage (the spells have to b e chosen wisely offensive/ defensive/ countermagic)


3. Powergaming starts at character creation. You have to choose your stats cunningly to make optimum use of the points available. When doing the dice, be unhappy with a total sum lower than 86.

Then go to maxx your stats. They have to fit to the class you want to play:
-Strength Important for every fighter class, influences both damage and THACO
-Dexterity High dex influences AC, hit dice and number of attacks with ranged weapons
-Constitution Important for the number of hit points you get
-Intelligence High int gives a mage some extra spells and allows him to learn more spells and to learn them easily; influences lore ability
-Wisdom High wis gives priests some extra spells; also influences saving throws against mind affecting spells like charm/ confusion/ chaos; influences lore ability
-Charisma Influences the price you have to pay in the shops; high charisma of the group leader improves the groups fighting spirit - useful when you´re dealing with dragons without a cavalier

Note:
-Only fighters (means: pure Fighters, Rangers, Barbarians, Monks and Paladins) can take advantage of a con higher than 16 resulting in more hit points at level-up. You risc to waste your slots.
- If you play a character that is restricted to melee like a kensai - giving him more than dex-18 won´t improve his armor class further, it influences ranged weapons only.


II - So why a halfling cavalier?

Paladin´s get some saving throw boni by nature (+2 on all saving throws). I wanted to improve this further by choosing a race with better saving throws after seeing my chars running amok on their own party in earlier games. Actualy my halfling is practically immune to Mykonoid-/ Eart-Colossi- attacks with wis-18 (additional +4 saving throw bonus on mind affecting spells). It´s pretty satisfying to see him resist even the chaos spell. I´m curious about how he will perform against mindflayers.

The only disadvantage of the halfling class is that they are restricted to str-17. I would have taken maximum use of the halfling race by choosing a kit allowing the use of ranged weapons, but I find some sense of humour in a halfling specialised in fighting demons and dragons.
I just finished the de´Arnise Quests and the Shadow Dragon, the bridge districts Lich and I found him not at all to be a victim for the bodycount

[This message has been edited by Ragusa (edited September 14, 2001).]

 

Nice stats but my human monk or half-orc kensai will waste your little halfling.

 

Yawn ... we don´t play BG-2 death-match ...

[This message has been edited by Ragusa (edited April 17, 2001).]

 

Sorry Ragusa, I guess I was mistaken... NOT! My Elven Bladesinging Kensai will (pardon the pun) cut your "halfling paladin" down to size with the Equalizer and the Blade of Roses+3 faster than he can ask Torm or some other deity for help

 

Ragusa dahrling, Where did you find all this spare time you seem to have lately? You seem to be all over this board! Good lesson btw, I've needed a few good powergaming tips. NOT!

 

The reason you dont play bg2 deathmatch is because your halfling piece of crap would die 8 seconds after my kensai draws his weapons.

 

Now to those green fighters with hot blood, itching to cut Donaldus in half. You might do that, but then you will have to feel the wrath of his older buddy the thief/fighter. MAJOR trouble for you.

Even if the latter fails, there will be a couple Ragusa's good ol' freinds stopping by:
- Modjahed (Ranger/Cleric) will shove his boot of speed up any Kensai's arse any time
- and if you piss Shura off, he'll get out his ring of void

The morale of this fable is the following: NEVER brag about how strong your char is - there is a stronger one out there anytime.

 

It seems to me that a halfling cavalier is a contradiction as far as weapon skills go. Halflings are good as far as ranged weapons go, but Cavaliers have only melee weapons. I also kinda picture paladins with impressive two-handed swords, or huge axes, etc. But a halfling wouldn't be able to hold them.

Oh well.

 

Oh the irony,
oh the intrigue.
I think you should team up your mini Paladin with a half-orc Jester Ragusa.

 

The lives of all paladins are mine to claim! All who challenge my right shall die! Even fellow Kensais who use longswords!

But a halfling cavalier is interesting. How does he look with Carsomyr, I wonder?

Other races can be paladins in the 3rd edition rules of D&D, people, just for your information.

 

A halfling paladin with Carsomyr? Would probably look like an olive mounted on a toothpick... with a halo, of course...

 

Lol Seric

You can say what you want about little people, but at the end they cut exactly at the right place and height. So a halfling wielding carsomyr and striking just at THAT spot, is painful.... (and that's an understatement )

 

I have ol´Kheldorn to wield Carsomyr ... admittedly it would look strange on Donaldus
And as for the halfling race - the only alternative would have been a dwarf (no insult intended Ironbeard - they are just not *that* well suited for the paladin type warrior )

[This message has been edited by Ragusa (edited April 17, 2001).]

 

i like to play this game, however im not gunna sit and reroll dice for 2 hours to get 95... anything over 80 is fine by me if i wanted to sit and roll dice all day i would go to los vegas.

 

Ach, I've had anither look at the manual and seen that dwarves loose out again. I thought high saves were oor last advantage, but halflings are better. AGH! Anither point, how come ELVES are so much better than us at spotting hidden doors. F'eh most of 'em wouldna know granite fae dirt!

 

i've been away for a few weeks

and a load of new topics have appeared

yet this board stays the same. Glad to see that good ol' Ragusa has stayed the same.

is shura still around?

and would people stop all this "my character would pound yours!" stuff... quite childish i'd say...

i;ve never sed that... EVER!

 

No other race combines Dwarven saves with Dwarven Constitution. My Dwarven Berzerker will challenge any Halfling to a drinking contest!!!

And I actually like the lack of romances for my dwarf, he gets respect from his comrades, not gooey sentiment.

So put your chin up and take it like a dwarf, Ironbeard!

 

Strange as it seems, I'd rather have a DWARF than a Halfling...<sigh> Paladin No Ragusa, it's not just to piss you off But think on it, can you gimme a solid example of Halfling "paladinry" even bravery? For Dwarves there are loads, including Bruenor BattleHammer of Mithril hall and his pink Hammer Halflings beware

 

I wasnt saying my characters would kick everyone elses asses but I WAS saying they would kill donaldus easily.And if you are gonna make threats to MY characters dont use a ranger/cleric because a kensai would work them.

 

Me think halflings sucks!

With their max 17 str. they're very poor fighters I say!