21 replies to this topic

[Desyirin]

Soooo ummmm I was wondering from a lore point of view what class most fits in for the protagonist? And Please don't mention the novels XD, but yeh. Whats everyones opinions on what class and/or alignment fits for the protagonist? Lawful evil elven Bard? Chaotic good dwarven Cleric?

[Icendoan]

Well, the thing about this is it is pointless, as you could get a flame war quite quickly, if we weren't so benign.

The protagonist, lorewise, as you ask, can only be a Fighter. That is the only lore we have on it.

If it is a disguised personal preference thread, please use the several here in the same forum.

Icen

[vilkacis]

I've always felt that the game is made for a good human fighter with INT and WIS both around 9.

...possibly less.

[ed] Well, BG2, anyway. BG1 was slightly more open.

Edited by vilkacis, 27 December 2008 - 08:50 AM.

[GeN1e]

And Please don't mention the novels

But I will nonetheless. Human fighter wasn't picked up out of nowhere.
I myself feel the very same way as Vilkacis does.

[Vicen]

I would have to agree as either a neutral good fighter or perhaps a chaotic good ranger

human or half-elf for certain

[Aliya]

For me a good protagonist, needs to be multi-class. Because if you take two-three classes, it more fun. A half-elven fighter-mage-cleric (thief)

[Tempest]

I'd say a cleric of some sort, myself. Provides a marked contrast to all three main villains, and faith would be a strong way to justify a good character not falling to the taint.

[GeN1e]

I'd say a cleric of some sort, myself. Provides a marked contrast to all three main villains

BG1 - fighter, BG2 - mage, ToB - cleric. To make a contrast one have to be a thief then.

[Delight]

Human - the game is very homocentric and doesn't really show how other races experience reality. Also, most of races grow up slower than men, which would make them to young for a protagonist.
The PC should be gullible and not very smart, but not completely dumb either. The protagonist should be fighting in honourable way - never interrupting cutscenes and never, ever backstabbing the boss before hearing his/her exposure.
Basically, what vilkacis said.

[berelinde]

Most likely some human. As others have pointed out, it seems most logical. Starting in Candlekeep, one could make a case for either a fighter or a mage. I would even say that cleric (of Oghma) is also possible, since the tempe's right there. Harder to argue a case for, say, an assassin or bounty-hunter, but why let that stand in the way of a good time? I could also see a bard or monk PC, I suppose. Also hard to argue a case for paladins, but that's a vocation, like the priesthood. If the PC is meant to be a paladin/cleric of some god that isn't Oghma, well, that's just the way it goes. The PC does start out at first level.

[Kellen]

Lawful Stupid Human... Fighter. Not intelligent enough for a mage. Not enough common sense(wisdom) for a cleric.

EDIT: Though that seems to be a trend in Bioware games. Jade Empire is certainly driving me to the edge with it.

Edited by Kellen, 28 December 2008 - 03:45 PM.

[Klorox]

I think most classes work (NOT Barbarian, Druid, Assassin, or Ranger though), and I think the race should probably be Human, Half Elf, Half Orc, or Halfling (since Immy says you're just a bit older than her, and these are the only races who can adventure in their teens).

Sorcerer or Fighter work best IMHO.

[Deva]

Sorcerer. Deity's blood, it fits in with that whole 'drawn-into-adventure-never-wanted-it' thing if the PC had powers they hadn't learnt, that had just sort of turned up. It also explains why people around Candlekeep suspected you weren't entirely normal. A spellcaster makes sense in the context of a big ass library and a mage guardian. Also, you don't need smarts to be a good sorcerer, so the fact that CHARNAME is lacking in brain power isn't necessarily a problem.

Other classes I could see working are Monk (you did grow up surrounded by them after all), Bard, Fighter, Mage and Cleric. Personally, since you've basically never left Candlekeep, I can't see Ranger working. I don't think CHARNAME would have enough experience of the wild and things. Barbarian, Kensai, Druid, Bounty Hunter, Assassin, Skuld and Priest of Talos are also really unlikely, I think. Skuld's and Kensai's have a cultural aspect to them that CHARNAME wouldn't know about growing up in the Sword Coast. The others... just wouldn't happen in that environment.

But. Who cares.

[Kellen]

As a note, it's not exactly unlikely that Charname received training from a skilled Skald/Kensai/whatever, while in Candlekeep. Heck perhaps Jaheira trained him in the ways of nature allowing him to be ranger, druid, or even perhaps barbarian. Perhaps he started as a thief, and as his career advanced decided to devote himself to Bounty-hunting, or assassinations. Also, Charname lives in a library, with enough books to bury himself in any culture and, really, to study any profession. He may not have much experience with his profession due to certain limits(perhaps his ranger profession, a more exotic profession in which only the basics were taught by a traveler) but really, that makes sense. You're level 1 with 0(1?) XP. You aren't supposed to have much experience.

Then again...

[WeeRLegion]

Do note that bounty hunter / assassin classes canonically only become an option post-BG1; a pickpocketing sneaky-thief charname would have had plenty of time to find such hobbies during his adventures between a rock and a spiky hard Sarevok. .p

Edited by WeeRLegion, 02 February 2009 - 12:07 PM.

[Dark-Mage]

In terms of race, you could make a case for the protagonist being an Elf.

Never really had the time or inclination to look up much on second edition Elfs, but if you apply 3/3.5 mechanics, in which Humans and Elfs grow physically at the same rate, to the BG than an Elf would work. An elf living, and growing, amongst humans would be an adult by the age of 20. Albeit any elf would still see him as a child but physically he'd be an adult and the exposure to human culture would make him mentally an adult, if only by human standards.

Yeah, just thought I stick that bit of 3.5 'Races of the Wild' lore out there.

Anyways, in terms of class I'd say that any of the base four would work. The only one with any grey area is cleric because technically the gods weren't allowed to interfear(sp) with the bhaalspawn and not sure if accepting them as priests would be classed as interference by Ao.

For me, it makes most sense for the protagonist to be a wizard. Seeing as he/she is raised in one of the largest libraries in Fearun(sp) by a wizard.

[MrToughGuy]

I've played both games at least a dozen times each, and can say with certainty that the PC is intended to be a good (lawful or neutral) human fighter. I also read the books (first two anyway), and my retching disgust caused by the contents of said novels should dispel any suspicions that I'm simply advocating Abdel as the ideal.

BG2 the PC is intended to either remain a straight fighter, or dual to fighter/mage.

Edited by MrToughGuy, 24 February 2009 - 12:04 AM.

[Vherdel]

Neutral evil male human assassin.

with stats like...

16 strenght
18 dexterity
15 constitution
15 intelligence
13 wisdom
12 charisma

or higher stats if you can roll that good

Why? Well, since you're going to become the new lord of murder, an assassin would be perfect, and sinse everything done in bg1 and 2 is either out of lust for power, money or revenge ( not for gorion of course, who cares about him ).
Evil characters are jsut farmore awesome than good, and well, thief classes suit fine, since you're starting in candlekeep, and who did'nt try to loot everything i nwinthrops in at the floor above?
I certainly did.
And since the taint is getting to you, so is the lust for murder, so assassin fits well.

Or in female case:

Chaotic evil female elf sorceress.

I don't try playing the game in the ''good way'' though.

Edited by Vherdel, 17 December 2010 - 05:09 AM.

[Toews]

Well if you're going to leaning towards lore. I would have to go with either a full on Mage (specialist of your choice) or Mage/Cleric. One because your foster father was one of the most powerful Mages in The Sword Coast... I don't know about you but if that was my "dad" I'd would want to be just like him. The second reason is because, in my opinion, a Mage is hands down the most powerful class on its own not counting multiclasses. Your alignment would be True Neutral since your father was a Harper, if you chose to be a multiclass (Mage/Cleric), you would also be wise and have a great mind. You would be much like Gorion, but set apart from him because of Bhaal in your blood leaving you the choice. If anyone is going to argue that Mages aren't the most powerful class then try beating Irenicus as any other class, at the appropriate level, with only SoA obtainable gear (no multiclass Mages). Apart from an Inquisitor Paladin with a Carsomyr I don't think anything would come close, so you see my point. Also a Paladin would be a decent fit as far as lore is concerned.

[Archmage Silver]

Ahem... did you guys really have to raise this topic from the depths? Because I can safely say that the topic expired long ago.