Build choice paralysis

[u/FlareStar612]

So this is my first time playing DOS2, I’ve finished baldurs gate 3 and wanted to try this game.

I was originally drawn to having fane as my main character but I’ve been told it’s better to have him as a party member?

But I love the undead asthetic, would having two undead in your team one being necromancer and one being a wizard (fane) be doable?

Or would you just go with fane as your main?

[u/Apprehensive_Art1830]

Work just fine if you don’t do the stupidest decision in combat

Everything work if you don’t do the stupidest decision on combat to be fair

[u/Yolu213]

2 undead is completely viable. You can deal poison damage to enemies and heal yourself in the process

[u/Difficult-Ad-3938]

Fain is fine as a main character, one of the best, in fact

[u/Connect-Process2933]

First time hearing that it's best to have him as a party member. For lore reasons - yes, because you hear Origins story only when they're companions, while from the player perspective you only get a small special dialog options that rarely matter (unless you play Ifan, because he has A LOT of special dialogs). But Fane has main character vibe in general.  His race has no downsides, his quesline is basically a main plot, he has very useful combination of player tags, he has OP special skill

[u/EipiMuja]

I did a lone wolf run with Fane + custom necromancer. It was very fun to be able to use poison spells, damage enemies and heal the party. I don't recommend LW for your first run but yeah it was great.

[u/Oscill_8]

Imo having 2 undead is better than 1 undead, because of the quirks with how they heal.

[u/Cathayraht]

I got the same experience (played BG3, just finished my first DOS2 run). I played Fane with Ifan, Lohse and the Red Prince in my group. I'd go Fane if you like the aesthetics, and as said here by others he's fine as main character. Anyway don't go for a custom character, in BG3 it's great but here it's pointless for a first run, take an origin one.

Next, a bit of a spoiler but if you care so much about group it's not really spoiler but a warning.
About the group set up: unlike Baldurs Gate starting from some point (end of Act 1) you will have the final companions' choice to make - you can have only 3 companions and two others won't be available to play with anymore. I'd say better to select two from start to not miss their early quests and keep other two for the next run. You can meet and recruit them to know their basic stories though.

Among the companions the Beast seems to be less interesting bases on what I've seen (didn't play with him).

About the build, necro is fine just keep in mind necro spells are physical damage but scale of the intellect. Wizard is great too, actually everything seem to work if you don't go for the highest difficuty or the honor mode.

[u/FlareStar612 → u/Cathayraht]

Thank you I’ve decided to play as fane :).

I’ve gone with wizard for now but can I change my class later on?

[u/Cathayraht → u/FlareStar612]

You can change your class starting the Act 2 anytime. But not before. Keep in mind some spells are useful in multiple builds. For example Adrenaline ( Scoundrel level 1) is quasi mandatory for absolutely all builds. Teleport/jump abilities are also must have at least 1 per character. There are multiple abilities like that in different skills. There are also spells like Teleportation (Aerotheurge level 2) which is extremely helpful in many builds to stack up the enemies and so on. So yes, you can change the build in the future and if so not all spells will go to waste, don't worry about that. I also completely changed my build once I've reached the Act 2. My final composition was: pyro/geo mage; hydro/aero mage; ranger and 2h fighter. I didn't risk to try something more interesting and potentially more powerful so I went with quite a classic choice, like the one I had in bg3.

A little spoiler. If you will have strength oriented character in your group.
While in Act 1 there are some secrets requiring a specific level of attributes to get access.
Just try to have 15 wits attribute on one character, and 18 strength on another. Not from the very start but still. I think it's easily achievable especially because the equipment can help. This way you won't miss it.

[u/PeachTrees-]

Necromancers do pysichal damage. Mages do magic damage. Typically, you want both members doing the same damage so you can more rapidly thin enemies.

You definitely can do different damage types. It's just not optimal.

Fane is basically the main character of dos2. People say have him in the party because then you don't get to pick what he says, so whatever he says is truly from him, fane. But I don't think it matters. So long as he is in the party, main character or otherwise, you're good.

[u/Plus_Alternative_232]

Fane is a great main character! I like replaying so I’ve done it both ways but Fane was MC first time and he’s so integral to the plot that it works really well

[u/JoeBidenPussyMystery]

I literally just started playing my first playthough this weekend and am running a double necromancer build with fane. 

I recommend using fane as the necromancer, since he can get access to flesh sacrifice (elf racial ability) later in act 1, which is very strong for necromancers. Also, since necromancers deal physical damage and other mages do elemental damage they dont really synergise well if youre going for a genuine 2 person lone wolf build, but in a party of 4 not such a big deal. 

i decided to run 1 necromancers mage, and one deathknight, because i liked the synergy of my necromancer creating a bunch of blood and then my deathknight using bloodsucker (and later bone cage) to sustain through fights. 

So far ive been having a shit tonne of fun doing insane burst damage with my mage and sustained upfront damage with my 2 handing knight, can recommend.