03-11-2003, 10:08 PM
Anyone has suggestions on a character that can reasonable solo through the game on normal diffuculty? I just don't want to get stuck half way through with a fundamentally flawed character that can't progress (and restart). Or go looking for (underleveled) NPCs i long left behind.
Soloing Normal difficulty in IWD2 isn't all that had, with some practice (haven't tried HOF, myself).
The most important thing to realise is that you WILL get hit in melee, no matter how high your AC is. I don't know if this is just an artifact of 3E, or a quirk of IWD2, but melee classes (Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, Barbarian) aren't really suited to soloing--at least not as pure classes.
The Sorceror is beyond a doubt the best soloing class for IWD2. With Shield (level 1; +7 AC, immunity to Magic Missiles), Ghost Armor (level 3; +5 AC, stacks with Shield), Expertise (feat, 13 Int requirement--up to +5 AC), Mirror Image (level 2; complete immunity to the first 2-8 attacks that would have hit you) and Stoneskin (level 4; 10/+5 immunity with a looong duration), the Sorceror is just a powerhouse.
The only time a Sorceror will have problems will pretty much be until they reach level 6; at level 6 they gain their first third-level spell, so you can pick Fireball and begin laying mass waste (they will already have Shield, Mirror Image, and Expertise if they choose it), and from there they only get more powerful--with more damaging spells, area effects, and instant-kills.
Soloists level much faster than a party. As an example, my first party of six entered Chapter 4 at around level 11; my soloist Drow Sorceress (who is penalised two levels for her innate abilities) reached the same point at level 22. At level 22 the Sorceror has an insane number of spells to cast per day--IIRC, with my Charisma bonus, she had 9 level 1 spells, 8 level 2/3 spells, 7 level 4/5/6/7 spells, and 6 level 8 and 9 spells. Per day. And I didn't have to choose what to cast when I rested.
The only real pitfall with Sorcerors is that they don't learn a whole lot of spells, and you can't "unlearn" a spell to make room (that was a stupid idea, NWN programmers). However, they do learn enough to get a highly effective array of protections, single-target damage, area-effect damage, instant-kill, disabling, and maybe even a few summoning spells. The secret is to not take duplicate spells (ie, never learn Confusion because Chaos has the same effect with a saving throw penalty).
Any suggestions?
Sorceror all the way. You could go Drow for the magic resistance (which is hella useful) if you don't mind the rather steep level penalty, or Aasimar for the stat bonuses (especially Cha) with a lesser penalty. Either works great.
Soloing Normal difficulty in IWD2 isn't all that had, with some practice (haven't tried HOF, myself).
The most important thing to realise is that you WILL get hit in melee, no matter how high your AC is. I don't know if this is just an artifact of 3E, or a quirk of IWD2, but melee classes (Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, Barbarian) aren't really suited to soloing--at least not as pure classes.
The Sorceror is beyond a doubt the best soloing class for IWD2. With Shield (level 1; +7 AC, immunity to Magic Missiles), Ghost Armor (level 3; +5 AC, stacks with Shield), Expertise (feat, 13 Int requirement--up to +5 AC), Mirror Image (level 2; complete immunity to the first 2-8 attacks that would have hit you) and Stoneskin (level 4; 10/+5 immunity with a looong duration), the Sorceror is just a powerhouse.
The only time a Sorceror will have problems will pretty much be until they reach level 6; at level 6 they gain their first third-level spell, so you can pick Fireball and begin laying mass waste (they will already have Shield, Mirror Image, and Expertise if they choose it), and from there they only get more powerful--with more damaging spells, area effects, and instant-kills.
Soloists level much faster than a party. As an example, my first party of six entered Chapter 4 at around level 11; my soloist Drow Sorceress (who is penalised two levels for her innate abilities) reached the same point at level 22. At level 22 the Sorceror has an insane number of spells to cast per day--IIRC, with my Charisma bonus, she had 9 level 1 spells, 8 level 2/3 spells, 7 level 4/5/6/7 spells, and 6 level 8 and 9 spells. Per day. And I didn't have to choose what to cast when I rested.
The only real pitfall with Sorcerors is that they don't learn a whole lot of spells, and you can't "unlearn" a spell to make room (that was a stupid idea, NWN programmers). However, they do learn enough to get a highly effective array of protections, single-target damage, area-effect damage, instant-kill, disabling, and maybe even a few summoning spells. The secret is to not take duplicate spells (ie, never learn Confusion because Chaos has the same effect with a saving throw penalty).
Any suggestions?
Sorceror all the way. You could go Drow for the magic resistance (which is hella useful) if you don't mind the rather steep level penalty, or Aasimar for the stat bonuses (especially Cha) with a lesser penalty. Either works great.
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