Best Race Baldur's Gate
Welcome to my cRPG blog on the best race in Baldur's Gate 1 and Baldur's Gate 2. The best race in the Baldur's Gate Series is the Gnome. The ranking is as follows:
- Gnome Baldur's Gate (bonus saving throws & bonus spellslot in multi-classing Illusionist: Fighter Illusionist is BG2 Best Class)
- Human Baldur's Gate (+class selections and dual-classing potential)
- Half-Elf Baldur's Gate (+class and +multi-class selections, including both triples)
- Elf Baldur's Gate (I rank Elves above Dwarves because Elves are arcane-capable)
- Dwarf Baldur's Gate (regen acquisition and +saves = best innate powers)
- Halfling Baldur's Gate (+saves and +Thief skills)
- Half-Orc Baldur's Gate (BG2-only)
Race in Baldur's Gate (and alignment in BG2) dictates what Baldur's Gate class we can be, but when it comes down to it race is usually chosen based on the class we want to be, which determines how we play the game. What I mean is, there isn't actually much difference between Human, Half-Elf or Elf Fighter BG1, but there is a world of difference between Fighter and Mage BG1.
Class is the main consideration.
I've never played a cRPG because I want to be an Elf, but I've played many cRPGs because I want to be an Archer. It just so happens that Elves usually make for the best Archers. Thus, if I want my character to be the best possible archer from a power-gaming PoV, it'll be an Elven Archer.
There are some things to keep in mind in respect to race-class combos. Let's give some basic examples, starting with the blatantly obvious:
- I want to be a Paladin. Well, we must be Human because Paladins can only BE of human race.
- I want to dual-class. Well, we must be Human because only Humans CAN dual-class.
- I want to regenerate 1 HP every 6 turns or 41 HPs per 8 hours of rest. I want to heal while area-transitioning. We must be Dwarf and begin with a Constitution score of 19. Only then can we attain a Constitution score of 20, which grants regen. This is done by reading the Manual of Bodily Health (permanent +1 Constitution, item code: BOOK03) which is found as part of Safana's quest.
- I want to be the best backstabber. We must be Human because dual-class Fighter (6) Thief (9) is the best backstabber (in BG1).
- I want to be the best supertanker. We must be Human because dual-class Fighter (7) Specialist (8) dual-classes are the best supertankers (in BG1).
- I want my character to have access to every divine spell. We must be Half-Elf or Human because only those races can be multi-class or dual-class Cleric Ranger.
- I want to be as versatile as a Swiss army knife. We must be Elf or Half-Elf. Only Half-Elf can triple-class as Fighter Mage Cleric or Fighter Mage Thief. Elves are limited to the latter.
- I want to have the deepest Thief skillpoint pool. We must be Halfling with a Dexterity score of 19.
- I want to be the best pure Mage. Well, we can't be: Edwin is. Anyway, we must be either Human or Half-Elf because only they can be Conjurers.
- I want to multi-class with Mage but I still want +1 spell slot per circle. We must be Gnome because only Gnomes can be Fighter Illusionist, Thief Illusionist or Cleric Illusionist.
Determining which race is best in the BG games is rather difficult, since basically all of them offer some unique and significant benefit, indicating that aspect of the game is quite well designed and gives players a truly interesting choice.
ReplyDeleteOne could argue that Gnomes are the best race, since they are the best choice for the best class (Fighter/Mage), or that Dwarves are since the pure racial benefits for Dwarves are the best, being limited only by the limited range of classes available to them (no mages in particular hurting, since BG mages are OP). I assume you gave the nod to humans on account of their greater versatility.