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What to play as my party ? Any suggestions ?

I am still undecided for my party. I tought about going like this:

human undead hunter
dwarf dwarven defender
human cleric of lathander
halfling fighter/thief
human mage
half-elf bard

I am unsure about the bard and the dwarf. Thinking of making a 2h fighter instead or an archer.

Any suggestions ? I am not the power gamer type.

Comments

  • PeckerPecker Member Posts: 28
    I'd keep the bard, if only for more diversity to keep things interesting. But if you want to replace the bard with an archer or even a druid that would be fine too.

    You have pretty much the exact type of composition that I'd recommend for some one new to the game on their first run. If this applies to you then you chose a great party. If you want to try out 2 handed weapons, just give your dwarf axe proficiency, it covers both 1 handed and 2 handed axes. Have fun.
  • kamuizinkamuizin Member Posts: 3,704
    To give opinion on your main char i must know which NPCs you're going to add to your party, unless that's an multiplayer game with all 6 characters pre-made, then:

    Human undead hunter: that's taste, i will not give opinion in that, if you want overpower paladin, go for inquisitor or at least cavalier.

    Dwarven Defender Dwarf: Defensive instance is a double edge. It's very useful, but the slow it induce push the nerves. Put a boots of travel, haste or lot of magical potions of speed on him otherwise you will not stand using defensive instance.

    Human cleric of lathander: If you're going human AND cleric of lathander, don't take a kit here. I don't see boon of lathander and hold undead worth to give up more power, and by more power i mean dual-class.
    Make a fighter with good alignment and dual-class him to cleric.
    Make the dual-class at (i) lvl 3 for extra proficience point, (ii) lvl 7 for extra 1/2 atk per round or (iii) lvl 13 for extra 1 atk per round (and 2 extra proficience points in the process). Dual-class allow you to go for 5 proficience points in the weapon of your choice.
    You can change this character race to half-elf to take multi-class which will allow you to achieve HLAs more fast and access both class HLAs.

    Halfling fighter/thief: I would go with an elf fighter/thief, they got an natural +1 thac0 to 1h sword and bows, can reach dex 19 which by itself raise a lot of thief abilities. Of course Halflings will have better saving throw bonus, so it's optional, just my guess on this.

    Human Mage: Go specialized mage, choose one at least (if you don't want to open hand of an arcane school just go wild mage), otherwise go sorcerer. No reason to give up one spell slot per level for nothing.

    Want to use bards? Ok, no problem, BUT... install rogue rebalancing mod, otherwise they will suck a lot.
  • PeckerPecker Member Posts: 28
    @kamuizin‌ It seems you may have posted in the wrong section. This is Icewind Dale. No NPC's here. :smile:
  • kamuizinkamuizin Member Posts: 3,704
    I must get used to the existence of IWD... damn it. BUT....

    All my opinions are structural ones, so if the infinite engine keep constant between BG2/IWD, then all the above opinions are still valid, except for the bards, as they're awesome in IWD unlike in BG/BG2.
  • PeckerPecker Member Posts: 28
    Haha, yes still solid advice. Although the inquisitor is probably the worst paladin kit for IWD.
  • FardragonFardragon Member Posts: 4,511
    It may also be worth mentioning that dwarven defenders can use ranged weapons, with up to two pips, or four pips with throwing axes.

    Undead Slayers are also very effective with longbows.
  • WallOfTerrorWallOfTerror Member Posts: 14
    Okay. Thanks for advices.

    I might change my party for

    human undead hunter
    dwarf fighter/cleric
    human fighter
    halfling fighter/thief
    human mage
    half-elf sorcerer

    still don't know if i should have just one mage

    what you think ?
  • PeckerPecker Member Posts: 28
    Looks great. I would suggest taking the berzerker kit for your human fighter. No real drawbacks and the berzerker rage ability is very good. You could also make him a half orc if you want for the extra stat bonuses. For your mage I would take the diviner kit. It's probably the least restrictive school and you have another magic user anyways.

    But don't stress out too much about making the right choices in terms of creating powerful characters. You already have a great party and the game is beatable no matter what you take. Just choose whatever sounds the most interesting and fun to you.
  • YouYou Member Posts: 6
    human undead hunter
    dwarf fighter/cleric -> Half-elf Cleric/Ranger (for some Druid spell)
    human fighter -> Half-orc Kensai (for more DPS)
    halfling fighter/thief
    human mage -> Half-elf bard (one sorcerer+one bard is ok for arcana spell, and bard's song is great)
    half-elf sorcerer
    ----------
    I think mybe it will be better like this?
  • WowoWowo Member Posts: 2,064
    I'd say dwarf fighter/thief so you can get a +1 strength ring to raise his strength to 19. Being non-good can help there too.
  • kamuizinkamuizin Member Posts: 3,704

    Okay. Thanks for advices.

    I might change my party for

    human undead hunter
    dwarf fighter/cleric
    human fighter
    halfling fighter/thief
    human mage
    half-elf sorcerer

    still don't know if i should have just one mage

    what you think ?

    That human fighter you have, give him 17 int or more and have 15 str at least with him, then dual class to mage later, that would solve the problem.
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    OP's choices look fine to me.
  • FardragonFardragon Member Posts: 4,511
    edited December 2014

    Okay. Thanks for advices.

    I might change my party for

    human undead hunter
    dwarf fighter/cleric
    human fighter
    halfling fighter/thief
    human mage
    half-elf sorcerer

    still don't know if i should have just one mage

    what you think ?

    One mage is plenty in IWD. I would recommend zero ahead of two.

    What role do you intend for your human fighter? Why no kit and no race?

    On the whole, I think your original party was better than this one.
  • FardragonFardragon Member Posts: 4,511
    edited December 2014
    kamuizin said:

    I must get used to the existence of IWD... damn it. BUT....

    All my opinions are structural ones, so if the infinite engine keep constant between BG2/IWD, then all the above opinions are still valid, except for the bards, as they're awesome in IWD unlike in BG/BG2.

    Eh, no, because you recommend inquisitor.

    There are also a number of differences between the IWD and BG2 engines (beyond bards) which I suspect you are unaware of.
  • Kero_samaKero_sama Member Posts: 3

    Okay. Thanks for advices.

    I might change my party for

    human undead hunter
    dwarf fighter/cleric
    human fighter
    halfling fighter/thief
    human mage
    half-elf sorcerer

    still don't know if i should have just one mage

    what you think ?

    I don't think you should take so much tanks (Pal,F/C,F,F/T).
    I'd swap the human fighter for an archer/kensai/barbarian/berserker.
    You could take a bard instead of the human mage or take a mage/thief (illusionist/thief) as a support caster. Pure mage will lose to sorc in firepower anyways.
    And I personally don't like undead hunters, because I find Lay On Hands a quite useful spell adding more versatility to the main tank.
  • AndrewKellyAndrewKelly Member Posts: 16
    I also tried the undead hunter and found it to be a bit lackluster.

    I've replaced him with a dwarven defender. I feel like the extra THACO + damage you're going to get against every enemy from being able to go beyond specialization is more useful than the +3/+3 the undead hunter will only get against undead.
  • FardragonFardragon Member Posts: 4,511
    IWD is full of undead. Give the undead hunter a longbow.
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    If your mage is unkitted and human, you might as well put a few fighter or thief levels under him and then dual over.
  • ProteusProteus Member Posts: 40
    Make the cleric Half-Orc. Extra damage, extra hp, and the int penalty doesn't apply to priest spellbook.

    Or better yet multiclass him with fighter and dual wield morningstars.
  • kamuizinkamuizin Member Posts: 3,704
    Fardragon said:

    kamuizin said:

    I must get used to the existence of IWD... damn it. BUT....

    All my opinions are structural ones, so if the infinite engine keep constant between BG2/IWD, then all the above opinions are still valid, except for the bards, as they're awesome in IWD unlike in BG/BG2.

    Eh, no, because you recommend inquisitor.

    There are also a number of differences between the IWD and BG2 engines (beyond bards) which I suspect you are unaware of.
    Ok, i didn't played IWD:EE yet, have to buy it and atm it's not an option, but... i played the old IWD for a time.

    I can't give options to kit characters as in the old version these kits doesn't exist, but to take 1 point of my suggestions to justify reject all the other points, is pure and with the pardon of the word, ignorant, syllogism.

    A fighter/mage dual-class (specially a kensai/mage) will be good in any game with infinite engine.
    Dual or multi to cleric instead of go pure cleric is also another wise route.
    Specialize the pure mage or trade it for a sorcer is basic also.

    So if you want to reject these and other counsels i gave, ok, but justify the statement, otherwise it will sound... offensive.
  • FardragonFardragon Member Posts: 4,511
    Specialist mage needs to be rejected. Duel or multiclass is much better in IWD.
  • kamuizinkamuizin Member Posts: 3,704
    it's your opinion. Besides, i put specialist OR multi-dual, so that was covered in my suggestions also.
  • FardragonFardragon Member Posts: 4,511
    kamuizin said:

    it's your opinion. Besides, i put specialist OR multi-dual, so that was covered in my suggestions also.

    No you didn't.

    Specialist mages are a poor choice in IWD because the opposition schools are changed to be harsher combined with the limited availability of scrolls, and mages being generally less uber than they are in BG.

    You also advise against cleric of Lathander, which are awesome in IWD because of the frequency of undead and changes to cleric spell lists.

    Really, you shouldn't give advice if you haven't played the game.
  • kamuizinkamuizin Member Posts: 3,704
    Fardragon said:

    kamuizin said:

    it's your opinion. Besides, i put specialist OR multi-dual, so that was covered in my suggestions also.

    No you didn't.

    Specialist mages are a poor choice in IWD because the opposition schools are changed to be harsher combined with the limited availability of scrolls, and mages being generally less uber than they are in BG.

    You also advise against cleric of Lathander, which are awesome in IWD because of the frequency of undead and changes to cleric spell lists.

    Really, you shouldn't give advice if you haven't played the game.
    Didn't i? Wow, someone forgot to tell me that my playgames in the old IWD never existed! They must be fruits of my imagination!!

    Then, lemme do this simple, so maybe you get the idea, for IWD:EE:


    Specialist mage > normal Mage. That i stated.
    Multi-class/Dual-class mages > normal mages. That i stated.

    Multi-class/Dual-class mages > specialist mages. That YOU stated, but i didn't even touch in this subject.


    About the cleric of lathander, yes, i adviced against it and i mean it. To get a cleric of lathander the guy must go single cleric OR dual it to another class and lose the spell progression. So... yes, i adviced him to open hand of class skills for ability to reach grandmaster proficiency in weapon of choice + HP bonus from constitution + APR progression (if dualed at fighter 7 for 1/2 APR, or 13 for 1 APR) + Fighter Thac0 progression.

    You minding only a party of level 6 to 7 while i'm giving advice to an begin to end party.

    Obs: If kits make huge changes in the cleric spell options, that i'm not aware and so my advice could be discharged based on this, BUT... aren't you making confusion with alignment spell exclusive issue? As holy/unholy word and Holy Smith/Unholy Smith?

  • WowoWowo Member Posts: 2,064
    kamuizin said:

    Fardragon said:

    kamuizin said:

    it's your opinion. Besides, i put specialist OR multi-dual, so that was covered in my suggestions also.

    No you didn't.

    Specialist mages are a poor choice in IWD because the opposition schools are changed to be harsher combined with the limited availability of scrolls, and mages being generally less uber than they are in BG.

    You also advise against cleric of Lathander, which are awesome in IWD because of the frequency of undead and changes to cleric spell lists.

    Really, you shouldn't give advice if you haven't played the game.
    Didn't i? Wow, someone forgot to tell me that my playgames in the old IWD never existed! They must be fruits of my imagination!!

    Then, lemme do this simple, so maybe you get the idea, for IWD:EE:


    Specialist mage > normal Mage. That i stated.
    Multi-class/Dual-class mages > normal mages. That i stated.

    Multi-class/Dual-class mages > specialist mages. That YOU stated, but i didn't even touch in this subject.


    About the cleric of lathander, yes, i adviced against it and i mean it. To get a cleric of lathander the guy must go single cleric OR dual it to another class and lose the spell progression. So... yes, i adviced him to open hand of class skills for ability to reach grandmaster proficiency in weapon of choice + HP bonus from constitution + APR progression (if dualed at fighter 7 for 1/2 APR, or 13 for 1 APR) + Fighter Thac0 progression.

    You minding only a party of level 6 to 7 while i'm giving advice to an begin to end party.

    Obs: If kits make huge changes in the cleric spell options, that i'm not aware and so my advice could be discharged based on this, BUT... aren't you making confusion with alignment spell exclusive issue? As holy/unholy word and Holy Smith/Unholy Smith?

    Priest of Lathander is very strong in IWDee either as a single class cleric or dualed to something else.

    In my level 1 HoF party I have a PoL (12)/Fighter and the only reason I wouldn't advise to include such a build in such a party is the huge amount of xp available in HoF mode meaning that he becomes eclipsed by the casters once they progress last cleric 20 but up to this point he is very strong.

    On the other hand, in a non-HoF run I can definitely recommend a PoL pure cleric, you won't be disappointed.
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