Is a F/M/C viable in a 6 person party? Options

[Redwall]

I've beaten Tactics and Ascension and am planning on playing this for my next play through.

Anyways, I've never used a F/M/C and I'd like to try it but I'm scared that it'll end up being useless just because there won't be enough experience. I heard there's an item that can help with that a little, but is it enough for a six person party?

I like to consider myself as a decent player, but I know I'm not the best, so dragging around dead weight probably wouldn't work out. I used a Kesnai/Mage for tactics, which worked out well, but I'd like a change.

My party will look something like:

Protagonist: F/M/C
Keldorn
Korgan
Ranger dualed to Cleric
Edwin?
Imoen (I may use a multiplayer Sorcerer in this slot until I rescue her)

I normally run a little heavy on the magic side. This would actually be my most melee heavy party.

This post has been edited by Redwall: Feb 10 2008, 12:35 AM

[Vardaman]

I played a F/M/C protaganist in IAv4.3 and it was fine. I did a clean install and didn't archive my saves so I can't remember my party but it was a six man and I had Korgan SK'd to Neutral Good.
The F/M/C may not have been optimal but it may still be fine in a five-man team. There are plenty of good flails and they can deal some damage with the Multiclass Grand Mastery mod.

The experience boosting item gave 1.5 million XP then and it's been halved in V5.0 so I'm not sure how much that would affect a F/M/C now. That was also before the XP tables were inflated and multiclass HLA's were delayed so it could be a bigger deal. I remember I drank the XP potion after finishing the Planar Sphere at mid-level range and my F/M/C got HLA's sooner than the rest of my characters. I don't remember how much faster but I do remember leveling up after the potion and getting to choose two HLA's.

Anyway, I'd prefer it if the requirements for forging Ancient Elven Expertise (potion) dropped requiring the protaganist being a F/M/C. That would allow a multiplayer created character to be a F/M/C without being punished.