Favourite NWN2 character builds (excluding SoZ and MotB for now)

[Humodour]

So I've finally gotten round to installing NWN2 now that I have a decent computer, my Mac Mini. I've installed the latest patch and will be buying MotB and SoZ soon, but for now it's just vanilla NWN2.

 

What are your favourite character builds?

 

Svirfneblin Monk seems like a potentially good one - both Wisdom AND Dex bonuses to armour class, and a +4 AC bonus off the bat IIRC. Only downside is the ECL of 3.

 

I really like the look of the Teifling with those red horns and face paint but unfortunately she wouldn't make a good warlock because of the Charisma penalty and ECL of 1 (blast is based on lvl, right?).

 

And both the Warlock and the Monk suffer from a lack of variety in attacks (although the Warlock arguably makes up for it with her blast manipulations). I think maybe a Druid would be a safe bet - a companion, shapeshifting, normal weapons attacks, spontaneous monster summoning, and priest spells to top it off.

 

What's the party size in NWN2? Is there even a party? I hope it's either 1 or 4. 6 is too big.

[Monte Carlo]

Party size is four, PC + 3 NPCs.

 

I don't really play monks, although you can develop one of the NPCs into a monk if you choose. I did this on my last NWN2 game and was underwhelmed with his effectiveness, but it's likely that I wasn't using him to his full potential. There's also a warlock NPC - I found their blast powers a bit samey after a while

 

Again, I'm not a massive spellcaster-class player either but in SoZ I have a sorcerer / pale master in the party and although not overly powerful she is a fun character build (focus on Necromancy, naturally).

 

I've played NWN2 as, IIRC, a Ftr / Rog and a Ftr / Blackguard - enjoyed the Blackguard the most, a thoroughly fun and powerful character build although of course you'll be playing an evil character.

 

Cheers

MC

[Jaesun]

This is the one and only build that I enjoy the OC with: Jack of Hearts (Modified)

 

Pure. Awesome.

[Monte Carlo]

^ And to be fair, that's one of the least twinky RDD-using builds I've seen. Looks like fun.

[Pope]

If you take the time to plan your levels in advance, considering stat and feat requirements, Fighter / Weapon Master / Frenzied Berserker can be an awesome build, and gets really really powerful in MotB.

[Jaesun]

^ And to be fair, that's one of the least twinky RDD-using builds I've seen. Looks like fun.

 

Yes. It is a modified Jack of Hearts that I put together. And it was made specifically for the OC and works quite well with MotB as well.

 

It is not SUPAR overpowered, but a lot of fun to play with. Plus you can 0wn Torio at the trial (high Diplomacy). <3

[213374U]

Party size is four, PC + 3 NPCs.

You are allowed 3 NPCs for the first act, and 4 for the rest of the game.

 

I'd recommend a build similar to what MC proposed, mainly to take advantage of the huge amount of skill points afforded by the rogue levels. Spend those preferably on dialogue skills, as that's about the only thing NPCs can't do for you.

 

In my current game I went with a Ftr/Rog/WM/BG. I chose human for flexibility and the extra feat, which went to Able Learner (MUST HAVE!). The sneak attack from BG stacks with the rogue's, so it's pretty fun. And critting on a 13 is just obscene. Other than that, straight melee characters are fairly boring - monk is a total snorefest.

 

You may want to get the mod that allows you to muticlass NPCs, too.

[Spider]

I tried a Warlock once. It was the most boring character to play ever AND the mechanics of the game works against it, so it's not even particularly fun to have in the party (unless you play with AI on, then I suppose it makes little difference).

 

Warlocks are boring because there is little variety. Sure, you get to chose different effects, but you're pretty limited in scope. You'll basically just do your blast over and over again, and that's it. Since the blast needs you to be pure warlock, you don't multi-class, so you lose a lot of the fun character-building options NWN2 affords you.

 

And then the engine issue. Since the warlock's blast is an activated ability, not a weapon attack, you need to manually assign every single blast. That's fine for wizards and their fireballs, but the eldritch blast is basically just a cool ranged attack, so it feels like a normal attack. Sure there is the possibility to stack attacks, but even so, it's easy to forget about the warlock and having the character stand there and do nothing.

 

It's conceptually cool and has an ok power level, it's just so, so boring because there is basically no variety.

 

My personal favorite is a rouge/fighter. With a level of Shadow Dancer thrown in for good measure (and Hide in Plain Sight). You get a character that's a decent fighter and can sneak attack once per turn (and thus do a lot of damage). You also get a lot of feats thanks to the fighter levels without losing too much in the way of skill points. You do lose out on some sneak attack damage though, but it's worth it for me.

 

The Fighter/Weapon Master/Frenzied Berserker is also nice if you like pure melee.

[Shryke]

i'm still on my first playthrough and i'm just going for a simple aasamir paladin - divine champion build

 

was thinking of throwing in a couple of fighter levels, but i dunno - i'm not overly familiar with 3rd edition so i'm just gonna experiment a bit

[Humodour]

OK guys, you've turned me off Warlocks and Monk's, and because I dislike straight fighters (or variations on that theme - Fighter/Rogue), I'll pick the Druid after all.

 

Another thing is that Druids get diplomacy but Warlocks don't. Druids can still get the critical hit feats right? I remember having obscene crit chances in NWN1 and IWD2 like rand n00b mentioned - but it was a combination of feats and weapons - is getting at least 15 crit chance doable on a Druid? What about when Shape-sihfted into elemental/animal form?

[Humodour]

This is the one and only build that I enjoy the OC with: Jack of Hearts (Modified)

 

Pure. Awesome.

 

Hmm, that looks decent. I'm a fan of Bards, Clerics, and dragons.

[EUIX]

I usually make my main character a heavily armored, sword and shield wielding fighter, because I am completely unoriginal who conform to all fantasy cliches when making parties.

[~Di]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Fighter 2/Sorcerer 6/Eldridge Knight 10 (then fill in with either fighter or sorcerer levels, per your play style). You'll get a kick-ass melee fighter who can self-buff (plus buff her party with stone skin, etc!) and take out multiple mobs with powerful AOE spells. The best of both worlds. I love my EK! Don't think I could ever play NWN 2 with any other class now. I'm spoiled!

 

PS: Take Able Learner, and stuff as many points as possible into diplomacy. Then she will really rock!

Edited July 24, 2009 by ~Di

[Humodour]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Fighter 2/Sorcerer 6/Eldridge Knight 10 (then fill in with either fighter or sorcerer levels, per your play style). You'll get a kick-ass melee fighter who can self-buff (plus buff her party with stone skin, etc!) and take out multiple mobs with powerful AOE spells. The best of both worlds. I love my EK! Don't think I could ever play NWN 2 with any other class now. I'm spoiled!

 

PS: Take Able Learner, and stuff as many points as possible into diplomacy. Then she will really rock!

 

 

Hmm, that's something I'll consider. Might even make sense to grab 4 levels for fighter specialisation for weapon feats.

 

Can't wait to finish work so I can build my char.

[Arkan]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Fighter 2/Sorcerer 6/Eldridge Knight 10 (then fill in with either fighter or sorcerer levels, per your play style). You'll get a kick-ass melee fighter who can self-buff (plus buff her party with stone skin, etc!) and take out multiple mobs with powerful AOE spells. The best of both worlds. I love my EK! Don't think I could ever play NWN 2 with any other class now. I'm spoiled!

 

PS: Take Able Learner, and stuff as many points as possible into diplomacy. Then she will really rock!

 

 

I did this with a 10/10/10, and the character was awesome.

[213374U]

Another thing is that Druids get diplomacy but Warlocks don't. Druids can still get the critical hit feats right? I remember having obscene crit chances in NWN1 and IWD2 like rand n00b mentioned - but it was a combination of feats and weapons - is getting at least 15 crit chance doable on a Druid? What about when Shape-sihfted into elemental/animal form?

Yes, but to crit on a 15 you will need a weapon with a normal crit range of 18-20, say, scimitar. There are better feats to take for Druids, too (ie Natural Spell), as you shouldn't be spending too much time in human form during combat. The feats for Weapon Focus (Creature) and Improved Critical (Creature) weapons are in the game, but you can't have them without cheating, which is a shame.

 

On the down side, Diplomacy is the only dialogue class skill Druids get. Not that you *need* more, but a bit of variety is always fun.

[Musopticon?]

Ranger 9/Bard 1/Arcane Archer 1 has to be one of my favorites. I don't generally like twink builds and would promote roleplaying this to the best of one's abilities as well. Even taking a few more bard levels, since one level of bard makes no sense from a fluff point of view. Unless, perhaps, you take it first when creating the character. An artist gone native when adventuring near the borderlands, a noble that "disappeared" from a court and found a god, etc. A fun combinationg all in all. A note though, in NWN 2 it doesn't seem to work with half-drow, only elf and half-elf, which is a pity really.

 

Another long time favorite is a a ranger/rogue/Shadowdancer with two-weapon specialization. Makes for a killing combo and is one of the few builds where more than one shadowdancer level makes sense.

 

Sensing a pattern here? Guess which class was my first when starting tabletop, huh?

 

Anyhow, I tend to like clerics as well. In table-top they are versatile and fun to play since the dichotomy between being a shepherd and a divine avenger makes for interesting interplay. In Aurora iterations though, clerics are the top of the food chain by a mile. This build is nothing new in that regard: Fighter 2/Cleric(Fury, War?) x/Divine Champion x. Scrounge cleric levels until Raise Dead(5th level spell, right?), take augment healing to take back the cleric levels lost to the fighter and enjoy.

I loved my Water Genasi Fighter 2/Cleric of Umberlee 11 with monkey grip(halberd+large shield) and war(weapon focus for free) and water domains.

 

Note though, I generally like to only use the official domains of the deity I've chosen. It makes the more interesting if you don't always choose war or Evil(turn outsider lol die demon lol).

[Darth InSidious]

Another thing is that Druids get diplomacy but Warlocks don't.

Warlocks do get Bluff and Intimidate as class skills, as well as Beguiling Influence as a 1st-Level power, which IIRC adds +6 to all Bluff, Intimidate, and Diplomay scores for 24 hours. Otherworldy Whispers (?) grants a similar bonus to, IIRC, Lore and Spellcraft; The Dark One's Own Luck adds your charisma modifier as a luck bonus to all saving throws, Leaps and Bounds gives a +4 bonus to Dexterity (although this doesn't stack with other DEX bonuses, IIRC). All in all, it can be worth getting two levels of Warlock to start with.

[Humodour]

Another thing is that Druids get diplomacy but Warlocks don't.

Warlocks do get Bluff and Intimidate as class skills, as well as Beguiling Influence as a 1st-Level power, which IIRC adds +6 to all Bluff, Intimidate, and Diplomay scores for 24 hours. Otherworldy Whispers (?) grants a similar bonus to, IIRC, Lore and Spellcraft; The Dark One's Own Luck adds your charisma modifier as a luck bonus to all saving throws, Leaps and Bounds gives a +4 bonus to Dexterity (although this doesn't stack with other DEX bonuses, IIRC). All in all, it can be worth getting two levels of Warlock to start with.

 

Arrrg! Two many ****ing choices!

 

In a good way I guess.

[HoonDing]

Swashbuckler/rogue is my new favourite... swashbuckler has lore, taunt, diplomacy & bluff as class skills which leads to some very interesting options if one invests points in these (e.g. Chapter II trial). With some rogue levels one can become even more versatile and the sneak attacks comes in handy too.

[~Di]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Fighter 2/Sorcerer 6/Eldridge Knight 10 (then fill in with either fighter or sorcerer levels, per your play style). You'll get a kick-ass melee fighter who can self-buff (plus buff her party with stone skin, etc!) and take out multiple mobs with powerful AOE spells. The best of both worlds. I love my EK! Don't think I could ever play NWN 2 with any other class now. I'm spoiled!

 

PS: Take Able Learner, and stuff as many points as possible into diplomacy. Then she will really rock!

 

 

Hmm, that's something I'll consider. Might even make sense to grab 4 levels for fighter specialisation for weapon feats.

 

Can't wait to finish work so I can build my char.

 

Start with the fighter, then hit the sorceror levels until you can cast level 3 spells. Having the fighter attack numbers really helps a baby soceror stay alive, and you want those EK levels ASAP. There are a couple of odd skill requirements, so study them before you start. Choose kick-ass AOE spells... fireball as soon as you can get it... one great summoning spell... mordakain's sword canNOT be beat... then the best buff spells. I saved all my sickly archers and fighters at the bridge by casting protection from arrows and stoneskin on all of them (which is why sorceror is a much better base than wizard). I chose the most powerful AOE spells, hot, cold and undead. You'll have to take some crap spells in the beginning, but once you get fireball you'll be an unstoppable force of nature!

 

Clearly, I like this build.

[Sannom]

Swashbuckler/rogue is my new favourite...

 

A question about that : since mixing Swashbuckler and Rogue seems like a very natural thing to do, I was thinking about it. You seem to have some experience with it, and I have questions :

 

--- what race did you use? Tieflings seem like a no-brainer to me, since I like the race and their bonuses match perfectly the Swashbuckler, plus they have Rogue as a preferred class.

--- did you keep the levels of Rogue and Swashbuckler balanced at all time, or did you go ahead with one class before going back to the other (getting the Insightful Strike for the Swashbuckler as quickly as possible for example)?

--- Did you take the Able Learner feat?

--- Is the Feint feat useful for that build? Being able to sneak attack an enemy when I'm in front of him seemed fun!

[Humodour]

My companions in the tutorial cannot multiclass. Is that normal?

[Monte Carlo]

^ The levelling up system for NPCs is influence-based in a few cases and static in most.

 

It's not like BG2 where you control the whole levelling-up process.

[Humodour]

What is this ****, my party members are casting spells on their own and I can't find an option to turn that off. I thought NWN2 dumped the idiotic companion system of NWN1?

 

Cheers, MC, got any examples that don't spoil things too much? I need to know what to look for.

 

Edit: Nevermind, I turned NPC AI off. This isn't Dungeon Siege, Obsidian.

 

Edit 2: How do I select all party members in this game? It's not letting me highlight an area like in IE games. OK, so I just found out F1, F2, F3 etc chooses your party members. That'll do. Now how do I turn off auto-focusing on the target member selected? I want to be able to look at party member 1, select party member 2 via F2, and not have the screen move/jump to party member 2.

 

*sigh* no, this is crazy, I need a 'select all' button. (Note: I found out I have to bind 'select' all to Q then hold Q while dragging the mouse to select an area - ridiculous.)

 

Edit 3: Why can I only equip one weapon combo at a time? In IWD2 it was done perfectly. Why the step backwards? Oooh I get it, I drag weapon combos to the quickslots. That's not obvious.

 

Edit 4: The game froze again. I give up. Not playing anymore.

Edited July 25, 2009 by Krezack