Party combinations

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 10:15 am

Don't you find picking a party combination makes up for the dialogue options in BG2? Sure BG2 has story and plot, but its nice to sit back and hack away sometimes (like movies - who needs a plot when you have action?

).

So no "wah-wah, I prefer BG2" people please. Yes, I like BG2 and I know you can do it multiplayer , but I'd like to hear about people picking their party line-ups for IWD.

escape velocity · Post by **escape velocity** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 11:05 am

I created a party that I really liked -- although it was a pretty straightforward group of characters.

Human Female Paladin LG (ended up 11th Level)
Half-Elf Male Human Figher NG (12th Level)
Half-Elf Male Ranger CG (11 Level)
Dwarf Female Thief CG (14th Level)
Half-Elf Male Cleric NG (12th Level)
Half-Elf Female Conjurer CG (12 Level)

Although none of these characters got to *really* high levels I did get through the Severed Hand pretty easily with them. I think if I were to do it again (I haven't decided if I am going to create a new party or not for the expansion, I would make my thief a Fighter/Thief. I'd sort of like to work in a Bard but can't decide whether I would give up my Ranger or my straight out fighter.

I might also try to throw in a more diverse collection of alignments just to use all the weapons and armor that are evil alignment restricted.

I liked this party because I had a lot o fighter power up front. With a haste spell and the right weapons Yxomonei (sp?) went down without a hitch and I was able to run in, attack that Idol in Lower Dorns Deep without hardly any other spell casting besides Haste and Bless. My cleric was also a tank -- some of the morning stars and flails that I found for him made him able to dish out incredible damage!

In the end, I thought that my theif was really my weakest character. I think it would have been better to have had a dualled-fighter thief. I would have liked to have had some more spell casting power, too, but my conjurer pretty much got the party though.

That said, while they didn't have much of a problem with most of the battles in the rest of the game, the final battle with Behlifet was difficult. I played it through about five times before I won and then I still lost a few of them.

[This message has been edited by escape velocity (edited 02-06-2001).]

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Tue Feb 06, 2001 11:14 am

That's a good balanced party - one of everything. My HoW post has my favourite party in - I eliminated the need for a thief by dualling 2 characters. A had a multi fighter/cleric to get those extra specialisation slots, plus I figured you don't lose *that* much cleric power.

That gave me space for a bard. He was useful. I found early in the game your party combo really made a difference.

filbert · Post by **filbert** » Wed Feb 07, 2001 1:15 am

I had a different party...

Ranger
Fighter/Thief
Cleric
Bard
Druid
Mage

That party rocked. I found myself using the Druid to so stage setting spells for the major combats, entangle, etc...Cleric just cast the Protection from Evil and Defensive Harmony. Druid could heal as well. Bard was for identification and those instruments...he came in very handy as an archer as well. Little low on raw fighter strength but made up with spell casting and ranged ability. Druid and Mage both used slings..

I had a good experience with that party...

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Wed Feb 07, 2001 9:40 am

I'm a blockhead mostly so that's a little too mage-heavy for me. Still, if it got you through and you had fun

I actually enjoyed having the bard - extra spell support, all those bard instruments and some decent bows/crossbows for him to use. You can even get better dialogue options using a bard. There are some decent mail armours for bards to wear too.

T'lainya · Post by **T'lainya** » Wed Feb 07, 2001 11:48 am

I've played through a couple of times.
Party 1 .......... Party2
H F Paladin .........1/2e M Ranger
1/2 e M Rng/Cl .......M Df Fighter
H F Cleric ............H M Bard
E F MU/TH ........... E F MU
Gn M MU/Ft ............H F Druid
H M Fighter .......... H M cleric
I had success with both parties althoughthe first one was weaker on fire power due to all the multiclassing. The random loot was interesting too. I liked Kaylessas chain in the severed hand and imagine my surprise when I got something different my 2nd time through.

I like using the druid or Ranger/cleric mix for the druid spells, completely awesome. Did you ever use the summon insect? The beetles kept scurrying over to the ghoul carcasses and feeding after the fight.Casting Spikestone against the giants was fun too as long as you're out of range.

[This message has been edited by T'lainya (edited 02-07-2001).]

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Thu Feb 08, 2001 4:34 am

Never been too hot on Druids. I like the Ranger/cleric idea. Spikestones is an awesome spell - I usually hit the first few giants with several entangle/web spells and then fireballs. Easy money

Spellcaster-heavy parties - no blockheads like me? I find my 1 cleric and 1 mage are enough for high level spells. My ranger and paladin provide backup low level spells (and the bard too). There are too many juicy weapons to waste on a party of spellcasters

filbert · Post by **filbert** » Thu Feb 08, 2001 12:38 pm

Re-reading your first post Grunt-boy, I agree that making the party and developing a party is more fun then playing with a bunch of annoying NPC's. I have a post on the RPG board that poses a way to actually have cool dialog and still make your party yourself...

Anyway, having played both games I like Icewind Dale better. I don't have an hour a day to spead playing so that kinda game is easier to do in the snatches of time I have.

Chau!

[This message has been edited by filbert (edited 02-08-2001).]

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Tue Feb 20, 2001 3:49 am

Different tools for different jobs.

BG2 is good at what it does. NPC interaction.

IWD is good at what it does - party combinations. There are so many possible combos it has me drooling sometimes...

I'm gonna try a party of 'knights' soon. Pitty they aren't implementing kits in HoW

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Tue Feb 20, 2001 4:15 am

Originally posted by Gruntboy:
Pitty they aren't implementing kits in HoW

How true. I wish they were, but, oh well!

My best parties were all done by race. I had an all elven party that kicked.

I also had an all 3 ft and under party.
Dwarven Ftr
Dwarven Ftr/Cleric
Halfling Ftr/Thief
Dwarven Thief/Cleric
Halfling Fighter
Gnomish Illusionist

Invasion of the short people. It was fun, though. I felt like I was roleplaying more than just picking the best combination of races and classes.

I do prefer the options of NPC interractions, though. BG2 allows you to play either way. IWD had a great storyline, though, even without all the sidequests.

Gruntboy · Post by **Gruntboy** » Tue Feb 20, 2001 4:18 am

Heh, I remember talking about your short party. Weren't we going to invade the underdark?

I read somewhere stocky people get bonuses versus giantkin (more difficult to get hit)? Or am I going nuts?

Rail · Post by **Rail** » Tue Feb 20, 2001 4:28 am

You are correct, sir! They get great bonuses fighting Giants. Came in handy in IWD, even taking into account our lack of spell power.

And I do remember our plans for world domination by the halflings. Okay, maybe just the underdark.