Characters
Baldur's Gate II will feature many more choices during character creation. They have already added over twenty kits, or subclasses, with more planned. Three additional character classes have been added which are 2nd edition versions of the new 3rd edition D&D classes: monk, barbarian and sorcerer.
Druids have been made more powerful and more priest spells will be restricted to druids. All the avatars (character representations on the game screen) have been redone. The monk will have its own avatar, while the barbarian and sorcerer will use existing models. Bards still use the rogue avatar.
The half-orc race has been included and it can be a barbarian. Furthermore, the proficiency system has been redone so instead of groups of weapons, each weapon must be learned separately. Fighting styles, such as one-handed, two-handed, sword and shield, brawling and the much requested dual-weapon, have also been added. Because the second weapon for dual-wielding occupies the same space as the shield, you will not be able to equip a bow while a weapon is in your off-hand. Only one-handed weapons can be used for dual-wielding. Currently, all classes can potentially dual-wield, although it may be restricted to warriors and rogues.
Characters will have more abilities as they have tried to implement more rules. Stealth has been split back into Hide in Shadows and Move Silently, while thieves have gained Set Traps and Detect Illusion (no Climb Walls though). Disease and Cure Disease are now present. Magic resistance will likely to be changed so that it only affects offensive spells cast at the person and not defensive spells like healing or Haste. The character's constitution now plays apparent in when a character must rest.
Because of all these changes, characters that are imported from Baldur's Gate or Tales of the Sword Coast will need to reassign their proficiency slots, and may choose a kit, if they so desire. The kit may only be chosen for the first class of a dual-classed character. Specialist mages count as kits in this scheme so if you import a dual-classed fighter/illusionist, they will become a fighter/mage. Multiclassed characters may not choose a kit. You will get to keep your ability scores even if the are 19 or higher. New characters created in Shadows of Amn will begin with 89,000 XP, the maximum amount from Baldur's Gate. Any imported characters will be brought up to this minimum, although characters from Tales of the Sword Coast will be able to keep their XP up to 161,000 as a bonus for playing the expansion. Your reputation will likely not get imported and the reputation system has been improved. Characters cannot be imported from Planescape: Torment or Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate II characters cannot be transferred to Baldur's Gate I. Either a saved game or character can be used for importing into Baldur's Gate II. Rangers will be able to repick their most hated enemy and regain full status if they are "fallen." Paladin's too will have a way to return to full status.
The experience cap for BG2 is currently 2,950,000. The maximum level characters can achieve are listed here. Experience points can be earned by performing class skills, such as a thief picking someone's pocket. Experience for quests is not divided between party members; all party members receive the full value. Experience from combat is still divided by the number of party members.
Characters will now be able to possess a stronghold, a perk normally provided to characters around 9th level. Some strongholds have guards that protect them, but these followers cannot be part of the party. Furthermore, you do not get henchman, although NPCs some times accompany the party for plot reasons.
You cannot add facial hair or change your weight, height or physique. You will also not be able to choose which model is used for multiclasses like fighter/mages. This is because of the manner in which the character models are produced.
Law enforcement has been made fairer to the player characters.
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