All-Rogue Party

Ixtabai

I am enjoying playing a Jester so much, on my next run I want to create an all-rogue party that would cover the traditional roles (fighter, mage, cleric?, &—obviously—thief) but comprise CHARNAME & only rogue NPCs.

I am sure someone else must have done this because it sounds wonderful to me. But am I overlooking any real challenges? Is a pure mage or cleric ever actually necessary in a party at all?

Here is my line-up:

Charname: Jester (roles: infuriater, magic user, pick-pocket, 'face'/fencer/con-man |
Imoen: Thief (roles: trap-setter, backstabber)
Safana: Thief (roles: lock-picker, backstabber)
Montaron: Thief/fighter (roles: brawler, trap-disarmer)
Rasaad?: Monk (plays like a rogue) (roles: brawler, trap-finder, reconnaissance-man)

All these you get fairly early on yes? At mid-level we’d be a very quiet, secretive, assassin squad. As Jester I’d appear over-confident, teasing the enemy into walking into my trap while my party’d wait hidden in the shadows to come out of nowhere and deal a devastating, lightning-quick attack that'd cripple the enemy.

We’d sneak, bluff, and backstab our way to Baldur’s Gate and beyond. At least in theory. Anybody try this in practice? Who/what to look out for with this line-up?

Necomancer

You might want to add Tiax for some healing ability later on, though having a character capable of healing isn't required it would be useful. Just think of him as a special field medic. Coran might also be a good idea, his role being sniper or bowman. Also, I'd toss in Alora. Because shes adorable.

lunar

A healer is definitely needed, or you'll end up using all the healing potions in the game world. Or resting for weeks after each major battle. Tiax is viable, Quayle can be considered roguish with his illusion and invisibility specialities. You can dual class Xzar into a cleric with a tome so Monty and him stay a couple.

Nifft

There are two Bard NPCs in the game, so you might want to make Charname a Thief/Illusionist instead.

Or a Bounty Hunter, or an Assassin.

Eudaemonium

Or a Thief/Cleric.

The_Shairs_Handbook

Charname (mage/Thief multi)
Coran
Alora
Safana
Skie
Tiax

This is my current playrun.....and i must say it works perfect....

Southpaw

I wouldn't use Imoen as a backstabber (low strength=low THAC0), but keep her with a shortbow.
I would consider a Cleric/Tiax or your charname as Blade (better fighter).

I actually played an all Rogue run once (haven't finished the game though).
Charname Thief/Cleric
Imoen (dual to mage at lvl 6)
Safana
Montaron
Shar-teel dualled to Thief.

...everyone except Imoen was a backstabber. Had I not have Charname a part cleric for healing, it would have been much, much more difficult.

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Fighting_Ferret

Take a shadow dancer... you should never get hit.

Ixtabai

@thespace Yeah, Rasaad's sneak-stats suck in comparison to pure thieves of the same level, he does walk faster though which is useful for recon. I suppose after acquiring boots of speed, he could be demoted or replaced. He does appear early on so that is good. @lunar I hadn't thought of running out of health potions... Tiax comes so late perhaps it is worth running as a thief-cleric instead of a bard (since there are others) to fit my criteria (tho I do love playing a Jester).

limiting my party to 4 members would be pretty cool... perhaps, as an evil party of rogues, cheats, and backstabbers, we could take on random NPCs for their quests and stab them in the back & dump 'em when we're through... The idea has merits!

@Fighting_Ferret Will have to check out the SHadow Dancer... don't know much about that class... sounds good.

Kaltzor

I think Monks are in Baldur's Gate considered to be more a Fighter "Kit" than Rogue one.

CaptRory

Can Rasaad use the stealth boots? Its been awhile so I can't recall.

Rasaad has the advantage of being able to make a stun attack. If it works, one bad guy is sitting there drooling while everyone else has their turn. And he can do it from stealth but I don't know if he gets the to hit bonus

Ixtabai

Kaltzor said:

I think Monks are in Baldur's Gate considered to be more a Fighter "Kit" than Rogue one.

This is true, but they have a distinctly rogue-like skill set (even their 'character bar' [is that what you call it?]) in-game is based on the thief's. They are stealthy, (and RAsaad's bio indicates he was a pickpocket/thief too i believe.

Since there are no swashbucklers or the like as NPCs (there should be! Safana?) I have coopted Rasaad as rogue-like kit for my purposes... I think these reasons justify the selection. Though I might drop him for a pure thief when the opportunity arises...

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Southpaw

I can confirm, that the Stalker is actually a quite good scout/backstabber. Of course, he can't match the quintiple backstabs of thieves, but he can actually hold himself in combat and you don't have to run after you backstab someone just because a thief has only 1attack per round and lousy THAC0.

The problem is, that a F/T is even better and can also do traps and lockpicks...

Ixtabai

Started a new game as a result of the responses on this thread, with a Shadow dancer. Love it! I have so far rejected all NPC advances except Garrick's (I am female and I have a thing for bards). Though Skie took a couple tries to take down to get him. I had to step into the shadows to cause her to lose her target because a single spell was enough to kill me!

Garrick will have to carry my wands, gems, and scrolls. He'll pickpocket, I am going exclusively for Hide in Shadows and Open Locks. I'll need a trap finder/disarmer soon however...

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PugPug

Check this out for planning your party: http://playithardcore.com/pihwiki/index.php?title=Baldur%27s_Gate:_NPC_Rundown

Imoen: Thief
Coran: Fighter/Thief
Alora: Thief
Safana: Thief
Skie: Thief
Montaron: Fighter/Thief (would have to kill Xzar)
Tiax: Cleric/Thief

Branwen (cleric) can dual class to thief with a Tome of Dexterity.

So can Xzar (mage). You could keep him and Montaron together!

The_Shairs_Handbook

PugPug said:

Check this out for planning your party: http://playithardcore.com/pihwiki/index.php?title=Baldur%27s_Gate:_NPC_Rundown

Imoen: Thief
Coran: Fighter/Thief
Alora: Thief
Safana: Thief
Skie: Thief
Montaron: Fighter/Thief (would have to kill Xzar)
Tiax: Cleric/Thief

Branwen (cleric) can dual class to thief with a Tome of Dexterity.

So can Xzar (mage). You could keep him and Montaron together!

You don't need to kill Xzar.... just take ONLY him inside a house( building that you never gona go into again and kick him out of the party.. if you do that Xzar won't find you and take Montaron from your party)