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Baldur's Gate 2 Character Generation

Character generation

The Character Generation screen in Baldur's Gate.

When you are in the character generation section follow the steps below. At any point in the process, you may press "cancel" and will be prompted if you wish to return to the main game screen. To go back during character creation, press the up arrow at the bottom left of the screen. You may also choose to import an existing character.

Gender[]

The gender of your character is decided first. You can select either male or female. Once selected, press the "Done" button (as on every page). Gender chosen does not affect game-play—save for minor dialogue choices and romance options.

Appearance: Portrait Selection[]

Select a portrait for your character.

To import a custom portrait, check the instructions in the Read Me file on the installation CD.

Race[]

Main article: Races

Select the race of your character. There are six available character races. Choose between human, dwarf, elf, gnome, halfling, or half-elf. In Baldur's gate 2, you may also play as a half-orc

Descriptions of each race are given in the area beneath the selection boxes.

Class[]

Main article: Classes

The classes and class combination that are available to the race you have chosen will be highlighted. Choose the class that you want from the list. 

Descriptions of each class are noted in the area beneath the selection boxes.

Multi-class[]

Multi-classed characters are available to non-humans only and share the traits and restrictions of both classes. Human characters can choose to become dual class later in the game.

Dual-class[]

Dual class characters start their adventuring life as one class and then later switch to a different class, the abilities of the former class are unavailable until the character surpasses the level of their former class with the level of their new class. At this time, the abilities of both classes are available at their current level. The character can never advance further in the former class. Only humans can be dual classed characters.

Ability Scores[]

Main article: Ability Scores

You'll see a screen with the abilities the computer has randomly determined for your character (calculated as if you rolled three 6-sided die for each ability, adjusted for character race). Any class minimums will be automatically selected for the character for abilities that were too low (i.e., if the character needs a 17 charisma to be a paladin, and computer rolled a 12, then the player will receive 17). You can subtract points form an ability to add to another; however, you cannot take points away from an ability if it will lower the ability below racial or class minimums. Each ability will have a caption describing it. Re Roll your abilities as many times as you like until you reach a combination you are happy with.

You may also store 1 set of abilities and roll again by clicking on the "store" button. You may bring the stored set up again by clicking on the "recall" button. Only one set may be stored at a time but may be overwritten.

Alignments[]

Main article: Alignment

The player has a choice of alignments according to his class and race. Each alignment will have a caption describing it in detail. Your alignment determines how your character interacts with his environment. Read over each carefully before choosing. If you stray severely from your alignment during the course of the game, there will be consequences - you may even suffer loss of some of your abilities. Rangers and paladins become fallen when their behavior is out of line with their alignment. Fallen classes lose their special abilities and there is no way they can redeem themselves, unless you export/import the character into Shadows of Amn. You can then complete all the paladin tasks for the Radiant Heart stronghold or the ranger tasks for the village of Imnesvale and your status will be restored. But by then you will have too much experience to be able to transfer the character back to Baldur's Gate or BG: Tales of the Sword Coast.

Skills[]

Here, you pick what weapons you want to be proficient in. The available options are limited by class.

While all classes can assign points into weapon proficiencies, some have also access to Thieving Abilities and can invest additional points here. For some of those classes, the points are automatically assigned to certain skills, such as a ranger gets stealth appropriate to their level.

Appearance[]

Choose colors for your character's clothing. Be colorful and pick whatever draws your attention!

Name[]

Choose a name. Choose wisely because this will be your name for the whole game.

Starting equipment[]

Main article: Starting equipment


The Black Pits[]

Baldur's Gate[]

Every newly generated character is equipped with a quarterstaff and nothing else.

Tales of the Sword Coast[]

There is no extra character generation for the first game's original add-on. However, in the classic edition a predefined savegame, the "Mission-Pack-Save" may be chosen as a starting point, with a predefined party who comes already equipped. This savegame was removed from the Enhanced Edition.

Siege of Dragonspear[]

Equipment for new, non-imported characters is assigned by the script for the starting area, BD0120.BCS. Exact equipment varies based on class, ability scores, chosen weapon proficiencies, and possibly more.

The Black Pits II: Gladiators of Thay[]

Shadows of Amn[]

Newly generated characters in the second part of the series have no equipment at all when starting the game, but may find some items during the course of the first chapters, that most likely would have belonged to a party which made her way from Baldur's Gate to Athkatla.

Throne of Bhaal[]

Newly generated characters who have not been imported from the Shadows of Amn campaign will start the add-on with some powerful equipment, based on their class and the game file 25STWEAP.2da.


For a detailed listing, regarding specific items and classes, see the main article.

Experience[]

Game Starting experience Experience limit
Baldur's Gate 0 89,000
Baldur's Gate + Tales of the Sword Coast 0 161,000
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn 89,000 2,950,000
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn + Throne of Bhaal 89,000 8,000,000
Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal 2,500,000 8,000,000
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition 0 161,000
Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear 64,000 500,000
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition 89,000 8,000,000
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition (Throne of Bhaal start) 2,500,000 8,000,000

Starting experience point doesn't apply if the imported character has more experience than the minimal requirement.

Sources[]

This information comes straight from the Baldur's Gate game manual.

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