Since the THAC0 bonus that Elves get doesn't apply to crossbows, and, AFAIK, there isn't much of a difference between 19 and 20 DEX, is it better to pick a Human/Half-Elf instead to avoid the CON penalty?
What's the general consensus about the "Max HP on level up" option? Do most people use it? How does it impact the game overall on Core Rules and on Hard/Insane?
Are there any actual differences between Core Rules and Hard/Insane when using the "No difficulty-based damage increase" option BG1 and BG2? I'm finding conflicting information that, apparently, it's only on SoD that there are.
Are single class Fighters at a big disadvantage on Hard/Insane? Do they have little option other than very specific equipment choices to stack DR %?
In general, how many Clerics does a party need on Hard/Insane? Are single/dual class Clerics like Viconia and Anomen mandatory, or can a setup like Aerie + a Fighter/Cleric good enough?
The big thing with Barbarian is stacking his innate 20% DR with Hardiness and DoE to reach 80% DR, which sounds incredible. But how well can he handle Insane difficulty, (unmoded game), and specially ToB, with Belm/Kundane instead of DoE? With Foebane in the main hand, is 60% DR enough for him to stay up without many issues?
I'm playing through all the games on Insane difficulty, without mods. I want to play a dual wielder, but I can't decide between a Berserker, Barbarian, or Cleric/Ranger.
Before I get into my questions, I should clarify one thing: since I'm on console, I can't enable the C/R's Druid spell access. I'm also choosing it over F/C because Jaheira won't romance dwarves, and without shorty saves I feel the C/R is slightly better.
Here are my questions:
Are these three classes roughly equal overall, or is one of them clearly better or worse than the others?
The Berserker's biggest appeal to me in this comparison is APR. With Belm or Kundane, he reaches 5 APR without needing the Watcher's Keep gauntlets. However, I'm wondering how well he holds up later in the game. Does he struggle in ToB (or even earlier) if he doesn't have DoE? Is 40% damage reduction from Hardiness enough to keep him alive?
Whether he's sitting at 40% or 60% damage reduction, does a Berserker NEED Foebane in the main hand, or can he comfortably use Axe of the Unyielding or Angurvadal instead?
The Barbarian's biggest selling point seems to be reaching 80% DR with Hardiness and DoE. But how well does he perform with Belm or Kundane instead? That puts him at 4.5 APR, and later, with the gauntlets, he matches the Berserker's APR while sitting at 60% DR instead of 40%. But that means giving up 80% DR. Is that a bad choice?
The Cleric/Ranger levels more slowly. How much of a drawback is that throughout the games? Is he noticeably weaker than the other two for most of the playthrough?
Since he's a multiclass, I assume he eventually catches up to the Berserker and Barbarian, then surpasses them. If so, is it by a significant margin, and what point does that happen?
Finally, regarding party composition: is running four frontline characters a bad idea and too crowded? Does it work better if one of them uses a two-handed weapon with reach?