I'm giving the game a try, but I'm not really familiar with the character building. I was wondering if anyone can suggest simple builds that are good for a first timer? I've tried looking up builds online but a lot of them are terribly complicated. I thought maybe a Sorcerer, focus on exploding things? Seems straightforward enough. I've also read that their spells get weaker if you start taking levels in other classes, so I wouldn't have to worry about any multi-class shenanigans. Honestly I don't know, I'd just like something that lets me experience the initial campaign so I can get a feel for how it all works.

A monk, fighter, or barbarian are all pretty straight forward. Equip gear, then hit stuff until it dies. Improved Knockdown is a very useful feat.

A sorcerer will be a little trickier because you need to be more careful about your hp and you need to manage spells, but it works too. Pick a few disabling sells, a few protection spells, and some direct damage and you're good to go. Get a tank NPC to help keep monsters off you while you cast.

A cleric is also fine. Some decent fighting ability and plenty of buff spells to further enhance your fighting ability.

Don't make a rogue. They have issues dealing damage to creatures that are immune to sneak attacks.

Thank you, I think I'll give one of those a try, it sounds a lot easier.

FWIW, my first character was a sorcerer -- but it was a good thing the original campaign is fairly easy because looking back I was absolutely terrible. Casters are significantly harder to play in NWN compared to most melee types -- I'll second the Fighter/Barbarian suggestion (would not suggest Monk for first character, though it's not bad).

Fighter/Rogue, on the other hand, is a very solid approach. Use the combat style of a melee fighter (heavy armor, strength-based melee weapon) and supplement it with the skills of a Rogue. You'll generally pass on stealth with this approach, but otherwise you get the best of both worlds. Take your first level as Rogue, your second level as Fighter, then balance to taste (I prefer a 4:1 ratio in favor of Rogue). Definitely one of my favorite character builds, if that's not too complicated for Sawtooth.

Straight fighter, barbarian, or cleric would definitely be a simpler approach. I'd agree with MagicalMaster that Monk isn't recommended for a beginner. Definitely find a build order and follow it if you want to do Monk, they're easy to screw up. Sorcerers are fun, but the tricky part is that you can only change which spells you know when you level up. This makes it difficult to try new things, and it can put you in a very tight spot if you encounter enemies that you lack spells to deal with. Remember not to go overboard with damage-dealing spells, you only need a handful of them, and it's more important to carry a wide variety of spells to give yourself more options.

I think barbarian will be slightly more interesting to play, because you'll need to manage for rages. Unfortunately, fighter is the most boring class - 95% of the time you click on your enemy and wait until they're dead.

Some flavor of Fighter/Rouge is also my favorite. Rogues have the best skills in the game, and throw in fighter and you combine with one of the best melee classes, and best of all adding rogue levels doesn't really have a negative impact on your fighters combat ability, you can even improve it (Tumble skill improves AC).

Rogues are so versatile I have a hard time playing a build without some Rogue in it.

I finished OC with a rogue in my first playthrough. You do not have to kill everything with sneak attacks.

Mages will have a hard time till level 7-9 because of lack of spells in early levels. Completely manageable with a good henchman. (Take that half-orc and he will do all the work for you. Or the maniac evil monk. He is a killing machine)

I believe the easiest class is Druid, good enough spells make it more fun than playing a fighter and it has decent fighting abilities.


Before setting your Stats (STR, DEX etc), always click the recommend button first to get a general idea. It will show you which stats are important for that CLASS. You do not want to bump a Sorcerer with wisdom, which is not very useful for her. Or a Thief has a good use for INT to get more skills per level.

For me my first character was paladin4/fighter2/champion of Torm14 or somewhat close(Don't remember exact level split). With greatsword and Divine might. Was pretty smooth ride until final boss.

Lo those many years ago, I did my first playthrough as a monk. It was harder going in the first chapter, but as I leveled up and got access to the good class features, combat got a lot easier. I was also kind of all over the place with my feats; nowadays I'd stick to amping my unarmed strike.

And about a bard?

I prefer them in NWN2, which has a bigger focus on having a balanced party rather than a single strong PC. This allows the Bard to really focus on what he does best: buffing allies, providing general support, and debuffing enemies. In NWN1 he can still do those things, but you can't rely on NWN1 henchmen quite the same way as NWN2 party members, so you need to put a lot more emphasis on your own ability to fight and deal damage.

He's a very well-rounded class, and if you're looking for something that can do a little of everything it's a pretty good pick. Just keep in mind he's not going to be the best at anything either.

My main piece of advice would be, no matter who you are, have a pixie familiar (who can pick locks) so that you don't have to rely on Tomi to pick locks for you. Grimshaw is a much better companion for someone playing the game for the first time.

Only Sorcerers/Wizards can get a Pixie Familiar.

Oh, whoops, my bad. Thanks for correcting me!