Misc. Questions on Difficulty, Party Composition, and Spell Selection Options

[nataben1314]

It seems as though, judging from another and not having actually played the mod yet (waiting for v4), that mages are now in a situation where they are used almost totally for dispelling, immuning other characters, and creating summons. Would those in the know (esp. sikret/thetruth) agree with that? I'm not trying to imply that this is necessarily a negative if true, I'm just interested for the sake of future spell and party selection

Speaking of party selection, do you think I'd be making things too hard for myself to make a party of single-class characters? I've always disliked multiclasses unless soloing, and am not too keen on having a party full of five fighter/x's and one ranger/cleric.

And on difficulty, I wonder if it would be possible to make a rough difficulty guide for the quests of chapters 2 and/or 6? What I envision is something like e.g. "windspear hills: level 9-13 minimum" or whatever. With all the new content its difficult for me to know which are the easier quests and which are the ones best left to chapter 6. And for a player of my (low) skill level, it is difficult to determine if you are losing a fight due to wrong tactics, or due to the fact that you're simply too low of a level for that fight. So a general quest difficulty guide (at least for chapters 2/6 where the game is not very linear, and maybe a minimum avg. level before going off to spellhold) would likely save me much frustration and/or lots of me making HELP threads

thanks, and I can't wait until v4.

[thetruth]

It seems as though, judging from another and not having actually played the mod yet (waiting for v4), that mages are now in a situation where they are used almost totally for dispelling, immuning other characters, and creating summons.

This is not entirely true.
They are still effective offensively but not the overpowered class that could kill any enemy in the game without help from other characters in the party.
There are difficult battles in IA where a Mage cannot win solo.

What has changed mainly in IA is that the enemies are those who limit offensively Mages:

a)with their scripts
b)with their buffs/resistances/special abilities.

Also in IA4 Sikret has made some nice changes (Bug fixes and Tweaks) that make the game more "fair" and balanced.
These changes have also limited the "overpowerness" of Arcane spell-casters.

I suggest that anyone who installs IA4 read carefully the Readmes of the mod before he/she starts playing the game.

Speaking of party selection, do you think I'd be making things too hard for myself to make a party of single-class characters? I've always disliked multiclasses unless soloing, and am not too keen on having a party full of five fighter/x's and one ranger/cleric.

It would be harder with single-classed characters only but not impossible.

I dislike too multiclasses but they can help a lot in IA (especially F/Ms, F/Ts).
But you could also dual class 1-2 of your characters.The only problem is that good THACO helps a lot in IA and dual-classed characters (unless if dualed at high level) do not have it.

Anyway the party with which I have tested IA4 was:

1) PC - Stalker
2) Jaheira
3) Keldorn
4) Jan
5) Haer'Dalis
6) Sarevok (I dualled him immediately to a Mage - stupid decision since he reactivated his class late in ToB but I wanted to do it once)

Very useful in my party was Keldorn (with his Dispel Magic) and Haer'Dalis.
Also Imoen or Nalia would be much more useful than Jan (faster Mage progression).
So if you still want only single classed characters I suggest the Blade and the Inquisitor.

Whatever your decision is though, take a Cleric in your party.
I didn't and I regretted it.

And on difficulty, I wonder if it would be possible to make a rough difficulty guide for the quests of chapters 2 and/or 6?

I suggest this order:


1) Circus
2) Viconia,Jan
3) Graveyard (but leave Kitthix for later)
4) Montaron & Harpers
5) Murders - Bridge District
6) Slavers and Lilarcor
7) MaeVar
8) Start if you want the Umar Hills (not the Temple yet)
9) Trademeet quests (except from ... you will understand what - just save frequently)

and then start the bigger quests.

- De Arnise Hold
- Unseeing Eye (can be very easy or difficult depending on your experience)
- Planar Prison
- Planar Sphere
- Temple Ruins
- Windspear Hills

Of course you could always go to save Imoen but I wouldn't suggest rushing it.

Mordokai and the other testers can give their own order for these quests.
Just save often and even if you see that a quest is too diffult for your level you can always reload.

And don't forget that BWL is here for eventual problems