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.

[angiras]

I almost finished Imp Anv SoA with my first 'exploratory' six-man team before my computer got fried. Now that I have a pretty good idea of where the modified encounters are and what they involve, I too plan to start a smaller party run.

I generally dislike six person parties due to the micromanagement involved, and much prefer the simplicity and focus of a smaller party. However, going with fewer NPCs (already in-game or MP created)will substantially reduce your dmg potential, especially early game. It seems IA is pretty much balanced around a six person party. A smaller party will also go easier on your pocketbook, but you will have less cannon fodder.

Therefore, in creating my 3 person party, I plan on taking some liberties in givng them substantially better stats, (Sk-ed ability scores in the 18-20 range) as if they had obtained extremely good rolls and had just come from BGI where they used all the tomes. That 'may' help make up for the fewer team members, but I dont think it will be overpowered, at least not for IA.

Because I like banter, I plan on using Viconia and Korgan as templates for my two additional team-mates. (Viconia for her 65 natural magic resistance, and Korgan for his uber saving throws). However, Viconia will be transformed into a Cleric-Ranger, with 20 wisdom and 19 str, and Korgan will be transformed into a Beserker-Mage, with 20 str and 19 int. Both will have 18 in all other stats. This would be hard to justify in a full six person team, but with a small 3 person team, I personally feel ok with it. The Protagonist will be a Fighter-Mage with stats similar to Korgan. All will be multiclass.

In vanilla SoA the joinable NPC's (with the exception of Jaheria, Minsc, and Yoshimo) can have up to 1.2 million xp when they first join, provided the Protagonist has sufficient xp. Thus, the Protagonist will attempt to solo as much as possible prior to picking up Viconia and Korgan, and then transforming them to their new classes. However, Im not exactly sure what the Protagonist's minimum xp needs to be before the NPCs will upgrade to 1.2 million xp upon joining. Anyone know?

An early and pretty much unavoidable challenge for a solo Protagonist is the Suna Seni encounter, which will trigger after your first visit (or two) to the govt, bridge, or temple districts. The key to surviving and overcoming this challenge for a Protagonist with arcane casting abilities is to buff up prior to travel and have the spell 'emotion' memorized. Usually 3/4s of the mobs in that particular encounter fail their saves and fall unconscious, which makes it much easier. This holds true for most of the early random traveling encounters.

The random encounters while traveling outside the city can also be a decent source of cash because they often carry some +1 weapons and armours as well as scrolls. If you can handle them, these encounters are prolly the best place to farm for cash and xp early on. Its tedious, but it can be lucrative if you persist.

A fairly large portion of SoA, including the outlying areas, can be done solo if you initially skip the IA improved encounters. The thieves guild and trademeet quest lines are particularly good in this regard because they give decent xp and lots of early cash.

Tip: Do NOT talk to the djinn outside of tradement before venturing to the Druid grove, because then Intafeer will have lots of nice potions to sell (same inventory as Ms Craigmoon I believe). Most notably, 10 power potions and 10 invisibility potions.

All in all, Im thoroughly enjoying IA. Depending upon how I do with my 3 person party, I may even consider a solo attempt some day...but that would require knowing the mod inside out and having a well-thought out game strategy and encounter sequence.

This post has been edited by angiras: Jun 25 2007, 04:25 PM