XP/level progression graphs

[Ineth]

Hi,

to get a better understanding of the level-up system in Baldur's Gate II, I made some graphs from the experience progression tables in the game manual. Posting here in case others may find them useful...

(Click any of the images to get the full-resolution version.)


∆XP required for each level

The following graphs show how many additional XP points need to be gathered to reach a certain level, compared to the previous level.

The easiest way to interpret them is to imagine that incoming XP points "trickle down" to fill up the bars, one after the other, starting with the left-most-bar.
Each time a bar has been completely "filled up", the level written underneath it has been reached, and subsequent XP points now trickle down into the next bar to the right of it.

The two perpendicular violet lines show when the XP caps - for BG2:SoA and BG2:ToB, respectively - will be reached.




total XP value required for each level

The following two graphs show the total XP value required to reach each level (i.e., the cumulative version of the above graphs).

The first one is a zoomed-in version of the lower-left part up to the SoA cap, the second one shows the full graph up to the ToB cap.




Some observations

• For everyone except Druid, the level progression is made up of two distinct parts:
  1. for the first few levels, the required XP will rise "exponentially":
     • Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin, Ranger, Cleric, Monk: level 1 - 9
     • Mage, Sorcerer, Thief, Bard: level 1 - 11
  2. and after that they continue to level up at constant intervals.
  
  It is interesting to note that in each case, the combined ∆XP for all "exponential levels" is the same as the ∆XP for one of the constant-interval levels.
  For example, a Fighter will need 250,000 XP to go from level 1 to 9, then an additional 250,000 XP to reach level 10, another 250,000 XP for 11, and so on.

• The druid's level progression is pretty ****'ed up. He levels up faster than anyone else until level 12, and then slower than anyone else 'til level 15.
  Just to go from level 14 to 15, will take him the same amount of XP as it took going from level 1 to 14. And he will hit the SoA experience cap just before he would have finally reached level 15 - very mean.

[Taluntain]

Nice work... could you upload the graphs to an album here on the boards? That way they'll always be available no matter what happens with the external image hosting site and/or account.

[Paracelsi]

It's not too mean, the druid spells do make up for a lot of the deficiencies the class has. Summon Woodland Beings, Insect Swarm/Insect Plague, Entangle spam, Fire Elementals.
The gap between level 13-14 is the most noteworthy hurdle, but the reward is worth it - Nature's Beauty and Creeping Doom. 14-15 is just brutal though.

Excellent graphs. This a fine way to compare levels between casters, and I think I'll even use this for BG1. Ties in nicely with BGEE's release. Any chance you could also do a spell progression (between casters) graph?

[Ineth]

Originally Posted by Taluntain

could you upload the graphs to an album here on the boards?

Done, and original post updated accordingly.
I also added some extra info to the graphs.

Originally Posted by Paracelsi

Any chance you could also do a spell progression (between casters) graph?

That would be a 3-dimensional data set for each caster class (caster level x spell level x spell slots).
Any ideas on how to visualize that in a nice way?

[Marceror]

Good stuff Ineth!

[Ishad Nha]

Druid class has a reason for the bizarre aberrations in its table, in pen and paper rules there is a Druidical heierarchy that is the cause of the aberrations.

[hannibal555]

Nice Graphs.

The Druid gets an immense update to his spellslots on level 15 though.
3 extra Lv 5, 4 extra Lv 6, 5 extra Lv 7.
It is as though he gained levels inbetween that 14 -> 15 gap.
It's well worth the wait, but it can get tedious