New Party

[GawainBS]

Hello

I'm planning on giving the game a third run-through, this time with myself as a dualwielding Fist of Stone, Lothar as a Combat Mage, an Ice Elemental and a Scorpion. Should I be aware of certain problems with this party?

Thanks in advance!

[swcarter]

The set-up sounds odd, but who knows. It could work.

I'll just mention, in case you don't know, that if you're controlling a character, and if you hold down the left mouse button to keep him attacking, then he won't autocast any spells. That could be a problem for you, since your character is your only healer.

SWC

[Etherial]

Originally Posted by swcarter

The set-up sounds odd, but who knows. It could work.

I'll just mention, in case you don't know, that if you're controlling a character, and if you hold down the left mouse button to keep him attacking, then he won't autocast any spells. That could be a problem for you, since your character is your only healer.

SWC

I would agree. You main character, the heavy hitting dual-wielder that will initially be quite vulnerable to mobs until you get access to the higher skills of The Fist set, will be the only healer and whats more troubling is that he'll be the one probably taking the most damage. Unless your liberal with the space-bar (pause) and keep track of every blow, you will lose your main rather a lot without a dedicated healer.* Also, pets are mostly useful for things like sanctuaries and for use as secondary stashes for items.

Go with the standard starting party available to most BWers, Lothar as a Fist and a Deru as a Blood, with Taar later as another Fist until you reach Vix (and choose whether you want him or not to replace Taar as another Blood); with you being whatever you want. I, personally, go for another Half-Giant Fist, but that is because I like bashing stuff, summoning things, and healing my own wounds.

*Edit: It also stands to mention that when a Fist is healing, he is not bashing, thus prolonging fights and making them more costly.

[GawainBS]

Hhmmm... Maybe I ought to replace the Scorpion with Taar then. I always liked the idea of 1 pet, because you gain levels faster then. At least, that's what I was led to believe.
If that's not the case, I'd go for some all-out NPC party.
On a side note: someone here told me there's a mod that allows you to use throwing weapons with shields. Any idea which one that is? I never found it.

Thanks so far for the replies!

[JessicaElytis]

Originally Posted by GawainBS

I always liked the idea of 1 pet, because you gain levels faster then. At least, that's what I was led to believe.
If that's not the case, I'd go for some all-out NPC party.

Sorta. Pets don't collect XP, so it's spread among the rest of the NPC's and the Main.

I ran with a Shielder and pack of Dire Wolves for a bit. When I hit Elite with 5 DW's, it got insanely easy to overwelm mobs in seconds. Side note: Due to my Main being the only one soaking XP, I hit lvl 100 before BW Vet. Going up the mountain to Valdis in Vet actually.

I like Taar as a pure healer in the party now. Only using her offensive spells at times when no healing is required. She's fairly low armored so I tend to keep her out of the fray. A few things are angered at those that use healing magic, but aside from that, nothing even notices her. I also cram her full of my magic find items

Be careful though. If she's only set to heal and you are running, then attack something in the middle of a run, she'll keep going to where you clicked to move to before the attack. I got used to switch between F1 and F2 characters to halt runs just before attacking.

Another option would be to pick up the Light Nyrad for a healing pet. Not as effective as Taar, but one you don't have to think about during play.

Dire Wolves would complement your dual-wield (the 60% damage return aura) and Mythralhorns are always nice to keep things away from your healer. Don't forget that Gravity Stone can do the same thing. Good tactic for saving a healer's as.....err...bacon

Any party combo can work, some easier than others. I tried an entire party of archers and stopped after Act2. WAY too easy. You decimate things with insane damage before they even come close. The way arrows would work, I guess, but it made the game no fun with no challenge.

Conversely, I think an entire party of Nature Mages would be a bugger to keep alive and overcome the tougher battles. Maybe someday I'll try that one

I actually think Lothar would be the harder to keep alive in your party plan. Combat mages deal quite a bit of damage, but strong breezes tend to give them nosebleeds

For what you detailed, I'd personally go with a Main as a pure dual-wield (not FoS), Combat Mage, Nature Mage, and a Dire Wolf. Keep the NM close to the CM to keep him alive and use the dual-wield to "draw fire" by smacking things hard. The DW aura will help in killing off things a bit faster, and, as always with dual-wield, keep an eye out for life steal items that give health of a % of teh damage dealt by the dual-wielder. Working with Brutal Attack, vampire regen can put you back at full health if used right.

However, I do think your original idea for a party is playable. I'm not sure of tactics involved, but, aside from a low healing factor, you do have a good idea for battles. You might be able to offset the healing with health potions. I'd say to give it a try.

~Jessy

[GawainBS]

I'm quite deadset on the FoS, actually, since that's the reason I'm starting the game again.
Thanks for the advice, I think I'll go with DW FoS, Taar as a healer, a pet (Doubting between Dire Wolf, Ice Elemental and Dragon) and maybe Lothar as an archer. I'll keep a Fire Elemental in the inn to access the Combat Magic sanctuaries.
I found that without "Provoke" combat mages are too hard to keep alive, despite them packing quite a punch.
So, anybody else heard of that Shield-with-throwing-weapons-mod?

[Vai'Lutra]

I myself am going through with a pack of DW like jess but with with female human combat mage instead,going with all pets is really good with combat mage cos you get the awesome spells so quickly

PS:Fire elementals are actually really good to have in the group as their flamethrower power is a real battle-turner (espescially in Kaderak mines )