Character creation is the essence of a role-playing game. You’re assuming the role of the game’s main character—and you can mold that character to your specific wants and needs. In Dungeon Siege II, you decide the character’s race, appearance, gender, and abilities. Character creation continues throughout the game as you gain new skills and powers. This chapter covers Dungeon Siege II’s four races and primary classes. You’ll find suggestions on pair- ing race with class; a rundown of character attributes and how each impacts health, mana, and damage; and an overview of the primary classes, with advantages and disadvantages presented for each. ◆ Best class pairing: Any Character Races The freedom to spend two points Deciding your character’s race is your first choice on skills of your choosing makes before joining the Morden mercenary ranks in the Human the most adaptable race. Champions of the Second Age storyline. Dungeon Instead of splitting skill points Siege II features four distinct races; each offers across classes like Dryads (Nature unique statistics and appearance. Consider your Magic and Ranged) and Elf (Melee choice carefully and base the decision on what type and Combat Magic), selecting Human of character you plan to create. Certain races are allows you to focus both skills better suited for certain classes, although no race points into the class discipline of limits your choice of classes, skills, or powers. And your choice. A Human combat mage note that gender has no bearing on your character could focus both skill points on attributes or available classes, skills, or powers. Devastation for increased combat- magic damage; a Human nature mage could focus This section reveals Dungeon Siege II’s four race both skills points on Aquatic Affinity for increased choices, their starting statistics, and suggestions for ice-magic damage and healing magic power (as race–class pairings. COPYRIGHTEDwell MATERIAL as unlock the Icicle Blast power); or a Human ranged fighter could assign both skill points to Human Critical Shot for added ranged weapon damage. ◆ 2 unspent skill points But what’s gained in adaptability is lost in focus. Remaining Human statistics, while cer- ◆ +2 Strength tainly positive, lack class-specific benefits. The ◆ +1 Dexterity Human doesn’t possess the improved healing ◆ +1 Intelligence rate of the Half-Giant, great for a fighter, or the ◆ +10% chance to find magic items enhanced mana recovery of the Elf, excellent Races and Classes 1 ◆ 44356_Part_01_Final.indd356_Part_01_Final.indd 1 77/17/05/17/05 11:35:04:35:04 PPMM for a mage. The Humans’ specific benefit is their ◆ +1 Dexterity increased chance to find magic items; Humans are ◆ +3 Intelligence born treasure hunters. ◆ +5% mana recovery ◆ Best class pairing: Combat Magic Dryad The Elf offers points in a melee skill, ◆ 1 point in Natural Bond (-6% to Critical Strike, and a combat-magic skill, mana cost of spells, can harvest Brilliance. Remaining bonuses, though, mana potions, Gravity Stone level 1) are skewed strictly toward a mage class. ◆ 1 point in Dodge (+4% chance to The Elf lacks the Half-Giant’s enhance- dodge melee or ranged attacks) ments to Strength and health regenera- tion for the Melee class, as well as the ◆ -2 Strength Dryad’s Dexterity bonus for the Ranged ◆ +4 Dexterity class. But the Elf features the best mage benefits ◆ +2 Intelligence of any race: the highest Intelligence bonus ◆ +10% death-magic resistance and an increased mana recovery rate. ◆ Female only Brilliance, which increases maxi- ◆ Best class pairing: Ranged, Nature mum mana, is a combat-magic skill Magic but certainly aids any discipline should you Developer A point in Natural Bond and Dodge skills makes Tip the Dryad a “natural” choice for the Nature Magic decide to select the Elf or Ranged class, but these skills can benefit other for Nature Magic pair- As a combat mage, stay classes as well. Natural Bond decreases the mana ing. The Elf is the only true to one elemen- cost of all spells; this is a valuable mage skill even if race to start the game tal tree: death (Grim you choose to switch to or multiclass Combat Magic. with two powers, Brutal Necromancy skill), Natural Bond also grants the ability to harvest mana Attack from the Critical Lightning (Amplified potions from mana bushes and is the prerequisite Strike skill and Energy Lightning skill) or fire for the Gravity Stone power. Dodge increases your Orb from the Brilliance (Searing Flames skill). chance of avoiding melee or ranged attacks, which skill. A Human could Spreading out your supports any class. gain a second power skill points will create a early depending on the weaker mage in the end. Even with this apparent skill versatility, other skills chosen for its —Jerry Pritchard, Tester races provide stronger pairings. The Melee class unspent points. should select the Half-Giant and his increased health regeneration, Fortitude skill, and Strength bonus. And the Elf’s enhanced mana recovery, better Half-Giant Intelligence, and Brilliance skill point offer a stron- ◆ 2 points in Fortitude (+10% to maximum health) ger complement for combat mages. ◆ +6 Strength The Dryad’s Dexterity bonus, the strongest of ◆ -2 Dexterity any race, increases base ranged damage. The Dryad ◆ +5% health regeneration is the optimum choice for a ranged player; if you’d ◆ Male only rather assign both skill points to Critical Shot (which grants the Take Aim power), Human would be a bet- ◆ Best class pairing: Melee ter match for the Ranged class. The Half-Giant’s statistics leave little doubt regarding its optimum class pairing. Increased health regenera- tion, increased maximum health, and a Strength bonus Elf are ideal companions to the Melee class. Yet there are ◆ 1 point in Critical Strike (+8% chance to inflict a no limitations. You could groom your Half-Giant to be critical hit, Brutal Attack level 1) an ice mage, death mage, thrown weapons specialist— ◆ 1 point in Brilliance (+7% to maximum mana, any discipline you desire—but the giant’s statistics are Energy Orb level 1) paired best with close-quarters, hand-to-hand combat. ◆ 2 Character Races 44356_Part_01_Final.indd356_Part_01_Final.indd 2 77/17/05/17/05 11:35:06:35:06 PPMM Reduced Dexterity weakens the Half-Giant ers the basics of all four primary classes and reveals as a Ranged option and the lack of an strategic advantages and disadvantages for each. Intelligence bonus or any nature-magic or combat-magic skills gives other races the edge as superior mages. Melee Strength provides a bonus to minimum The Melee class emphasizes hand- and maximum melee damage and to-hand combat. To improve a melee has the strongest impact on health. character, Increased health regeneration and two wield a melee Tip points in Fortitude further enhance the weapon and Half-Giant’s role as a melee combatant. fight monsters All Melee characters can equip The downside is that the Half-Giant at close range. a single, one-handed melee starts the game lacking an available Increasing the weapon. But to equip a shield, the power, but two points in Fortitude Melee class Melee character must learn the lay a foundation for Whirling Strike. level increases Barricade skill; to equip a two- your charac- handed weapon, the Melee char- ter’s Strength at acter must learn Overbear; and Developer its highest rate, to equip dual one-handed weap- Tip which provides ons, the Melee character must select the Dual Wield skill. All of If you choose to emphasize Melee class, coordinate the best base these skills are first available at your weapon choice with your skill and power selec- health reserve melee level 5. tions. Notice that powers are specific to certain Melee possible. subclasses (dual wield, sword and shield, two-hand- Strength also ed). It helps to choose which style of melee you want impacts the Melee character’s bonus to minimum to use early in the game, and then focus on the skills and maximum melee weapon damage. that get you the appropriate powers for your favorite Through skills and powers, a Melee character weapon(s). —Chris Burns, Level Designer can specialize in two-handed weapon combat, one- handed weapon and shield combat, or dual-wielding combat. See Part 2 for details on creating each type Character Classes of specialized Melee character. Like its predecessor, Dungeon Siege The following list below covers the primary II features four pri- advantages and disadvantages of the Melee class. mary character class- Tip ◆ Highest base health of any class: Strength es: Melee, Ranged, has the largest impact on a character’s base New to Dungeon Siege II Combat Magic, and health reserve, and Melee characters boast the are character skills and Nature Magic. Also highest base Strength. as in the first game, powers, which are used ◆ High armor rating: Only the Melee class can you’ll learn by doing, to further hone your equip the game’s highest-rated armor offer- guiding your character character’s class. Focus ings, which makes Melee characters the most into a particular class. the Melee class on two- durable. Improve the Melee class handed weapons or dual- by fighting monsters wielding. A nature mage ◆ Dependency on health potions: Melee char- with a melee weapon; could concentrate on ice- acters are usually the first into combat and improve the Ranged magic spells, buff spells, therefore the first under attack from melee, class by fighting mon- or summoned creatures. ranged, or mage enemies. Keep your Melee sters with a bow, cross- See Part 2 for comprehen- character fully stocked with health potions. bow, or thrown weapon; sive tips on maximizing ◆ Not easy to exploit enemy elemental weak- and improve Combat or a character’s potential nesses: Many monsters are weak to specific Nature Magic by casting with specific skill and elemental damage, such as ice or fire.