My experiences with IA 5.0, Continue Shadan's topics with similar name Options

[Ryel ril Ers]

When Shadan started to play with IA 4.2, he opened a topic for write his experiences. I want to continue this with the v 5.0. So everybody who want to share his/her experiences could write it in this place and don't opened hundreds of topics wich tells somebody walkthrough. I want to gather lots of information in one place. (Sikret's walkthrough is too good so i don't want write to that place), and the starter player see which tactics, parties and quest orders works, and how use his/her money.

I ask everybody who write in this topic:
-Use spoilers tag for the tactics
-Don't write down serious spoilers
-Don't write down statistics (like xy has 69% fire resist) and immunities. (except the weapon enchantment and spell level immunities)

This post has been edited by Ryel ril Ers: Aug 1 2008, 06:05 AM

[trufa]

I have a pure class kensai and i want him good armor, but don't exists any item in the game who add permanent armor for the kensai. The shield amulet grants only AC 4 and no save, and half duration, so i choose this spell instead. In the early game it is very powerful, and later it will be good for my kensai.

There is a weapon, which provides to kensai a permanent armor, the Staff of Woodlands. The original is also fine (but of course it is better the improved...,/but it is another story/) An idea: Change the Kensai to Kensai druid with 5* staff 2* 2handed style,and begin the spear, dual at 8,9 lvl, Change the Berserker druid to Berserker Cleric, you would get much earlier Greater restoration, and change the multiclass gnome into Thief Illusionist. You would get more arcane spells, especially to mid-lvl. Of course you wouldn't cast ADHW, but there will be a sorcerer, and a blade with scrolls, and there are some other useful lvl8 spells.

[Ryel ril Ers]

I have a pure class kensai and i want him good armor, but don't exists any item in the game who add permanent armor for the kensai. The shield amulet grants only AC 4 and no save, and half duration, so i choose this spell instead. In the early game it is very powerful, and later it will be good for my kensai.

There is a weapon, which provides to kensai a permanent armor, the Staff of Woodlands. The original is also fine (but of course it is better the improved...,/but it is another story/) An idea: Change the Kensai to Kensai druid with 5* staff 2* 2handed style,and begin the spear, dual at 8,9 lvl, Change the Berserker druid to Berserker Cleric, you would get much earlier Greater restoration, and change the multiclass gnome into Thief Illusionist. You would get more arcane spells, especially to mid-lvl. Of course you wouldn't cast ADHW, but there will be a sorcerer, and a blade with scrolls, and there are some other useful lvl8 spells.

Thank you trufa. Good analisis but that is not my party, that is your party, i won't enjoy the game with it.

A pure class kensai with grandmaster profiency and with two handed weapon style in whirlwind is a messanger of death.
The best two handen weapon is the haldberd so i wait the time i construct the mighty Dragon Lord or the fiercefull Poseidon's Wrath.

I love my berserker->druid because i never heard that somebody play with that class and she has some advantage against the kensai variant:
- Can use all of the armor in the game
- Can use helmet so protected against critical hits
- The rage add +2 damage and thac0 and -2 AC at level 9 dual it means 3 rage per day, the kensai at this level gain +3 damage and thac0 -2 AC and -2 speed factor. I think the immunities from the rage are more better than the +1 damage/thaco and the -2 speed.

and the only disadvanteg is the missing kai ability.

I choose my first weapon the spear because i never try it but the impaler is has huge damage, and i prefer it better than the boring staff. I also have 3 star on staff because i play on level 1 after dual, and i only level up when i reach the dual, so i can put 2 star to it. My end game target weapon is the Staff of Ram.
Now i have the spear of kuldahar, i hope i find soon the +4 staff against +3 immune monsters. If i reach the sahaugin city i will use the Impaler.

The thief/cleric not worst class than the thief/illusionist. I love Jan very much but all of the other members of the party was fixed choise and i need one more cleric and one more thief. In the original game that combination has very interesting combos like:
- Harm and slay living from hide (that means +4 attack)
- Max backstab damage from righteous magic, with club and staff.
- Can turn to fighter/thief at highter fighter level than the original with holy power (but he don't have specialized profs and only have one attack)
- Can use timetrap with clerical spells.

I think these combos are not really works in IA but i need this character, and i hope he won't be my party achilles point. I think one interesting tactics for the late game:

place some time trap befor the enemy and if the characters are very hurted, we fall back and if the enemy follow me the trap is activated and i have three round to cast 2-3 heal on the fighters, or i can backstab with my club.

I have enough arcane spell now, my only problem is i have not good tank in the front who have enough spell to keep mirror image and stoneskin, but the dak'kon blade will solve my problem.

I don't want change my party formation, because it works and i enjoy it very well.
My blade is very weak now but i solve the problem:
with the minute meteor he has very good thac0 and attack 5. In offensive spin he has one more attack and every attack make ~9 damage.
So it will be enough until i equip he with some better gear.