SOZ party construction.. (Tips with minor spoilers):

[fable]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottg No need for Lore. ANY character can have that skill, and in fact you could always do without it altogether. You'd miss some map and overland map "junk", and perhaps one or two things of interest - but nothing critical.

Didn't think there was--it's just that your build includes it. But I'll do without it. Thanks!

[Scottg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable Didn't think there was--it's just that your build includes it. But I'll do without it. Thanks!

..which character?

[fable]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottg ..which character?

I could have been wrong. The DD lists "Skill Affinity (Lore)," and I took that to mean lore should be increased. I see now that you simply meant it had a SA for lore, but since you didn't list the other SAs, assumed it was special somehow.

[fable]

By the way, how many levels of lore are necessary for your Guide to become an SP?

[Scottg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable I could have been wrong. The DD lists "Skill Affinity (Lore)," and I took that to mean lore should be increased. I see now that you simply meant it had a SA for lore, but since you didn't list the other SAs, assumed it was special somehow.

That's just a racial bonus for the Dwarf.

[Scottg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable By the way, how many levels of lore are necessary for your Guide to become an SP?

..an SF? 8.

[Scottg]

I'm currently thinking of a more advanced part for SOZ..

[fable]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottg ..an SF? 8.

Bah, yeah.

Quote:

I'm currently thinking of a more advanced part for SOZ..

Heh! Go for it. There really aren't enough good 20th level party builds around for SoZ. Plenty 30th level, but I wonder how many people that create these truly solo them?

I decided to use your DD, along wih the Rogue "Guide," the warlock, and a cleric/DC.

[Scottg]

You can hear the crickets in this forum with Dragon Age just released..

Anyway, I'll not release the full alternative build I had for this game, but I'll add it here generally:

"Overkill and Company":

1st character Lead: Strongheart Halflling - Rogue 1/ Druid 19 (OM and utility character.)
2nd character Shine: Strongheart Halflling - Sorcerer 6/ Palemaster 1/ ASoCK 10/ Sorcerer 3 (..bluff character.)
3rd character Lore: Human -Cleric 7/ Fighter 1/ Cleric 12 Domains: Animal & Time (..Lore character.)
4th character Face: Human - Cleric 7/ Fighter 1/ Cleric 12 Domains: Animal & Time (..Diplomacy character.)

All 4 characters use ranged weapons, crossbows for characters 2-4 for the first 7 levels, at 8th level Longbows for 3 & 4. Shortbow for character 1. Improved Rapid Shot for Character 1 by 12th level. Improved Rapid Shot for characters 3 & 4 by 9th level.

Dino Pet's for characters 1, 3 & 4. Yeah, *3* dino pets.

Frankly the build was to easy.. even at the hardest setting I could take-down the endboss within 2-3 rounds using concentrated ranged attacks.

The use of the pets provided excellent meat-shields, that rarely were hit.

The 1st character had a relatively high survival & hide skills AND had Woodland stride - so overland map movement was easy. (..this was also my Intimidate, Search, and Disable Devices/Open Lock character.) Resting on the overland map wasn't a problem for this character either - with only the occasional "Imminent" threat level.

Even the crossbows at level 5 were reasonably sufficient without rapid reload due to access of Haste from both the 3rd and 4th characters.

Surprisingly the Crossbow attacks from character 2 were also quite effective, and this was without the "Rapid Reload" feat for this character (..instead choosing appropriate magical feats.)

Overall - magical attacks were relatively infrequent, but when actually used the party had *awesome* power to "draw upon". Even "buffing" was relatively rare.