I'm a huge D&D fan so I really want to play the original BGs... but I've tried and I just can't. Between the super dated look and the atrociously complex class/race mechanics (and confusion in data from BG1/2 vs BG EE) I just felt overwhelmed. Please convince me otherwise or help me get past all that and into the game.
Can't help if you need your game looking good just to play it. Mechanic wise, game comes with a pretty good manual and youtubers have posted vids about thac0.
I can probably get over the graphics, and I understand THACO, it's the multiclass vs dual class on top of there being some confusion about how all that changes between BG 1 and 2 and where exactly BG EE fits into all that.
Multi-class = you progress your selected classes at the same rate. Not available to Humans
Pros and Cons:
- You get the best of both worlds when it comes to Thac0, saves, proficiency etc
- HP is averaged between classes and you don't get max proficiency (i.e. Fighter/Mages can only specialize in weapons (2 points))
- In ToB you can access High Level Abilities (HLA) for both classes more easily (as soon as you hit 3 Million XP)
- No kits (main class only, so no Kensai/Mage, etc).
Dual-class = only available to Humans. You basically "change jobs". The result is you mainly play a new class, while retaining some benefits from a previous class. Powerful because of how front-loaded progress is in BG 1/2.
The process goes:
1) Start off normally as Class 1 (i.e. Fighter). You can choose to introduce Class 2 at any time (you'd want to do it right as you cross into a new level)
2) Relearning Period (Class 2 is catching up to Class 1. Your character is handicapped - You forget the skills of Class 1 and you're basically playing a brand-new character of Class 2 with an existing larger HP)
3) Dual Class 1/Class 2 (Class 2 caught up. Only Class 2 continues to progresses. Class 1 abilities are remembered and you take the best of Thac0, saves etc from the 2 classes)
The length of the relearning period is determined by how far you've progressed in Class 1.
Pros and Cons:
- You get the full HP on level-up prior and after dualing. Because of the way HP is gained in BG2 (only full HD up to level 9), you can end up with more HP going Fighter to Mage than a Fighter/Mage multiclass. However, the inverse is also true.
- Dual class means Class 1 can be kitted (more powerful combos). However, Class 2 is still main class only (so you'll never have a Kensai/Assassin)
- Obviously, the "relearning period" sucks, especially the more you progress into Class 1
- Usually less HLAs. Essentially you need to hit the 3 Million XP individually for each class to get HLAs. This means most people don't see Class 1 HLAs (since you don't want a 3 million XP+ relearning period).
- You can split the 8 million XP cap more efficiently between the 2 classes
