[NO SPOILERS] First time party planning

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Here's what I've decided to go with:

Human Paladin -- Great Saves, will use large swords, maybe bows too.
Dwarf Fighter -- Give this tank an axe! Crossbow too, I guess.
Dwarf Fighter/Cleric -- hammers, maces, and a sling.
Half-Elf Fighter/Druid -- Scimitar, sling, maybe club. Depending on stuff found, I might brance into spears/staves too.
Half-Elf Bard -- Longbowman, dunno what I'll use if baddies get too close.
Gnome Illusionist/Thief -- I guess I'll use this one like Jan in BGII: shoot some crossbow bolts when I'm not casting. If there's a throwing dagger in this game that would fit him too.

I figure I'll ditch backstabbing (as I was planning for my original Halfling Fighter/Thief to do), and combine my Mage with my Thief. I've never been a big fan of arcane magic, and I won't be upset with a slightly lower Illusionist level. Any spells he can not cast, I'll have to rely on my Bard to handle.

So, whatchya think?

 

Bards are actually quite good spellcasters in IWD, as they can get up to spell level 8, unlike spell level 6 in BG.

 

I've actually been running into the chronic restarter thingy, and I'm down to two party choices. Please let me know which you think is better, and why:

Party 1:

Paladin
Dwarf Fighter/Clrric
Half-Elf Fighter/Druid
Half-Elf Bard
Dwarf Fighter
Gnome Illusionist/Thief

Party 2:

Paladin
Dwarf Fighter/Cleric
Half-Elf Fighter/Druid
Half-Elf Bard
Dwarf Fighter/Thief
Gnome Fighter/Illusionist

I know I'd have fun with either party, but I just want to know which will allow me to best take advantage of the available equipment in this game.

 

"I know I'd have fun with either party, but I just want to know which will allow me to best take advantage of the available equipment in this game."

I tell thee such, the only way to really do that...

Make a random party and play. then make a new random party and play again. Dont bother about powergaming, just make some fun characters that you enjoy and knock yerself out (and preferablly some Yuan-ti at the same time.)


That apart, the team i had the most fun with latelly was:

halfelf cleric/ranger NG
halfelf wizard/thief NG

very versatile team. the only thing i really missed was bard. but a bard cant hide in shadows like these two can.

 

IWD has a (slight) amount of random drops. While there are a lot of weapons and items that will always be available, there are quite a few which you might not get in one run or the other. Just play the game however it pleases you and don't worry too much about it.

As far as your two new parties are concerned, the only difference seems to me is whether you will use your thief for backstabbing or not. There are no weapons that enhance backstabbing iirc, so as such you should be able to use any items you find in the game equally well.

 

Ok, here's my final answer!

I've decided to go with characters (some loosly) based on characters friends or I have played in past P&P D&D games:

LG Human Paladin: Viktor. Long Sword/Shield & Axe (throwing axes). Leader of this motley crew.
CN Dwarf Fighter: Klorox. Greatsword & Bow. No shields, he's a bit of an oddball.
CG Dwarf Fighter/Cleric: Kilona. Hammer & Sling with Flails later on.
NG Half-Elf Bard: Jaq (of all trades ). Bow & Halberd. Crossbow eventually.
CN Gnome Illusionist/Thief: Gnorman. He'll be shooting a short bow when not casting spells. I don't think any other proficiencies really matter, but I'll go with missile and dagger in case I find a cool returning weapon or sling and want to use a buckler.
TN Human Fighter: Vespa. This one will be my Druid shortly after I start. I'll probably dual class at level 3, since I want to do the dual early on, and hate that "down time" period. I don't think the 3 levels will hurt me too in the long run, and the added heavy armor (and *** in slings) should really help.

So, what do y'all think?

 

Sounds really cool

 

If you are playing the game for first time use this party :
Dwarf Fighter - Weapon - One-Handed axes and two-handed (use one big axe to open the chests in near the naga ... )
Human Fighter - WEapon - Two Handed Swords (you will find many nice swords ;] )
Human Cleric - No need to telling you for him/her
Elf - Illusionist *i think that this was the one of the 2 mages with +1 mage slot*
Elf - Conjurer - -/-/-
This will be great party !


Little Spoiler
(Don't remember to collect all magic sword at the end of the game , and you will get one nice dragon killer sword in the HOW (two-handed ;] )

 

sounds like a kickin party.

 

This may be a minor spoiler....

Original AD&D introduced holy avengers. Only a paladin could identify a holy avenger (it just looked like a normal sword -- possibly magical -- to everyone else).

Icewind Dale uses this same philosophy. While Carsomyr is easily identified by everyone in the BG world, Pale Justice (a +7 sword vs evil) appears as a normal sword (even merchants will only give a few gold for it). There is one hint in the game about it's location (and a rather abstract hint at that).

 

DARNIT!

I can't stop restarting! That above was NOT my final answer!

Ahh, I'm having fun, and that's what matters. When I get through Chapter 1 without any complaints, I'll let y'all know.

 

Your having fun in chapter 1 ?!? wow i think i hate chapter 1 in all the games. even torment (mortuary).

 

Yeah raptor, I'm still having fun in Chapter 1 (but it is getting a bit monotonous).


Anyway, as you can tell from this thread (and my threads a long time ago on the BGI and BGII forums), the hardest part for me in this game is coming up with a party that is both powerful, covers "all the bases" and (most importantly) I'll enjoy playing.

Here are a few ideas, please help me with a few more or just comments/suggestions/modifications on the ones I've presented. BTW, I have HoW and TotLM installed:

Party 1
Paladin
Bard
Fighter/Cleric (dwarf)
Fighter/Druid (HalfElf)
Fighter/Illusionist (gnome)
Fighter/Thief (elf)

Party 2
Paladin
Bard
Fighter 3/Cleric (dual)
Fighter 3/Druid (dual)
Fighter 3/Mage (dual)
Fighter/Thief (elf)

Party 3
Paladin
Bard
Fighter/Cleric (dwarf)
Fighter/Druid (halfelf)
Fighter (dwarf)
Illusionist/Thief (Gnome)

Party 4
Paladin
Bard
Fighter/Druid (halfelf)
Cleric/Illusionist (gnome)
Fighter 3(dual)Mage
Fighter/Thief (elf)

Party 5
Paladin
Bard
Fighter/Druid (halfelf)
Fighter/Cleric (Dwarf)
Fighter/Illusionist (gnome)
Fighter/Mage/Thief (elf)

Party 6
Paladin
Bard
Fighter 3/Druid(dual-class)
Fighter/Cleric (dwarf)
Fighter/Thief (elf)
Fighter 3/Mage (dual)


Ending comments:

I think I like Fighter/Thieves (or FMT) becuase they make great archers. The Elves can get a 19 Dex, and have a bonus to hit w/ bows. I want both cleric and druid spells, but I can't decide if multi or dual classing is better. I really think (at least) 3 levels of fighter before the mage, cleric, or druid classes is very helpful. Both for equipment and hitpoints. As you can see, I insist on having a Paladin and a Bard in all of my parties. Not only have I had a ton of fun with these characters in other games, but I'm told they can be uber in this game.

edit: added party 6 which adds some arcane power.

[ September 25, 2005, 05:36: Message edited by: Klorox ]

 

Both the Paladin and the Bard are fun to play. You could also consider playing through with only 4-5 chars, or maybe try an extra Cleric, they are quite usefull

But really, i find chapter One very entertaining, even though i must have played chapter One 100 times

 

Well this seems like a very alround solution:

Paladin
Bard
Cleric
Fighter 3/Druid(dual-class)
Fighter 3/Thief (dual)
Fighter 3/Mage (dual)

I would recomend keeping teh cleric singleclassed, to progress the fastest. In my experience he is always the person i want to levelup the fastest, becose i need healing spells or raise dead, or some sort of anti undead or anti disease, or curative spells of various reasons anti fire/cold some such thing.

Remember to have fighter druid pick the 3rd star in Sling....... its teh only ranged attack they can use when druid. so dont waste it on bows.

Bleeh, i think your thinking to much about "power" really, my ragtag bands usually cant use half teh things in the game, but it doesnt matter. you can always play through 15 more times and try everything, that way you ahve more things to explore the next time.

 

thanks guys.

Raptor, I think you might be right, I'm thinking about power too much. But finding that "perfect party" is part of the fun for me. My problem with the party you selected is the lack of tanks. Also (and I really do appreciate the advice), I see no reason to have a thief go past level 8 or 9. I want to max out my Traps and Locks skills, and then really have no use for the class. As a matter of fact, I'm now considering another party, replacing the thief character with a human thief who dualclasses into a mage. I figure this is a pretty good use of "character space" since I only use thieves for those locks and traps skills and the fact that mages aren't all that useful at the beginning anyway.

 

I started over again now with my party of 3

halfelves all,

ranger/cleric
fighter/thief
thief/mage

Having a blast. have all kinda characters in the party (warrior, priest, rouge, wizard), beeing able to use most anything in the game between various chars. and all can hide in shadows this is fun. Running around sneaking past enemies, picking up their treasury, and then come back for them later when they are easy pie.

also since i have only 3 on the party, i levelup faster. so i level up exactlly as fast as if i had 6 partymembers with the same classes.

 

Raptor, sounds fun, I remember i did something similar once

 

I have played IWD1 many times and never find the holy avenger
can someone tell me where it is ???
I think i will start a new party only with one paladin

 

You will find it towards the end of the game. When you go to kill Malavon, there is a hut to the right of map with the trapped circles. A couple of monsters burst out of it. Go thru it to the back and you will find it.