Optimum 4 Character Party Options

[nataben1314]

I've reformatted my computer and so now hopefully can give IA a go (FINALLY!)

I would like to do this with a 4 character party. I have some ideas about what to pick, but thought I'd ask the veteran players for advice first.

So what is the optimum 4 character party in terms of class, race, and proficiencies?

Keep in mind that I am more than willing to use all 4 custom multiplayer-created PCs, I do not need to have any of the normal NPCs in my game.

[rbeverjr]

I'm a veteran of about 1 complete IA run-through. (So, I'm not really a veteran). The fighter-mage types are indisputably the most powerful class in IA, and the triple classes can be the most powerful if the party size is small, you remove the XP cap, and add a mod that makes the best HLA choices available. The "optimum" party also depends on what you want. I want the most powerful group for most of the adventure (rather than just the end). I personally had more trouble in the beginning of the game than at any other time. Another consideration is the artifacts available through IA upgrades. These artifacts tend to be very restrictive to an NPC or a particular class - and Use Any Item usually does not defeat this restriction. A third consideration is that you need to play a ranger-type or mage-type if you want to experience the expanded strongholds - unless you use the multiple strongholds mod. My second run through will be mostly using 5 characters, but I'm already thinking about a third run through using 4 characters.

I suggest that a FMC (protagonist), FMT, R7-cleric, and sorcerer would be a powerful 4 member team.

The RC multiclass would be a more powerful character in the end game than the R7-cleric because of access to the fighter's critical strike HLA (which basically negates THAC0 differences between characters - you always hit when using this HLA). However, the R7-cleric (who can still fight through Holy Power and other buffs) and the sorcerer mean that I will be getting high level spells sooner and more spell power (ruby rays, greater restoration, etc.).

This team will not be able to use 3 of the most powerful weapons in the game (Judgment Day sword, Flail of Defending and Wounding, and Holy Avenger) if Sikret imposes the changes in 4.3 that he suggested. I still think that this is probably the most powerful 4 member crew, but would like to hear the opinions of the true veteran players.

[Sikret]

A third consideration is that you need to play a ranger-type or mage-type if you want to experience the expanded strongholds - unless you use the multiple strongholds mod.

To see the new quests added to the strongholds your protagonist needs to be of the right class. Multiple Stronghold mod will only allow you to have all of the strongholds and to see the vanilla game's quests for them, but it will not help you see the new quests added by IA.