Viable party compositions, Topic split by Sikret Options

[rbeverjr]

I see that the wildmage is ending in the next version? Too bad. I am playing Xan as a wildmage (no hand of undoing, just improved chaos shield). He seems to be very effective. I'm really not interested in the rationale for just dumping the class; I don't agree. Even in IA, I think that the wildmage probably becomes the most powerful mage. Even so, he's not the most powerful class in IA, unlike the vanilla game. Furthermore, the wildsurges can be disasterous in the tough battles; so, you have advantages and disadvantages. While I am disappointed, I could and may just play a second sorcerer or perhaps a wizard in IA 5.1+. (Any chance of editing out "For the Needy" from Nalia?)

I agree that without PfMW the bard class may as well be dumped too. (At least, I consider there are better alternative classes in my game.) I further agree that the IA teams that each player uses will become more similar as valid alternative classes are eliminated.

Once 5.1 is done, I will have to carefully consider all the changes before I elect to play the new mod rather than sticking to 5.0.

[lroumen]

My reasoning for asking more varied parties is the following
[start constructive criticism]
When I look at the party composition of the active player community of IA, I get troubled impression on the mod.
- Most players have a Vagrant protagonist.
- The most active players of the mod are all equipped with modded bioware NPCs as well as custom created NPCs (and those are likely 18/18/18 fighters).
- If they have bioware NPCs, it's a large selection from the following: Valygar, Imoen/Nalia, Anomen, Cernd
- And a minor selection from Keldorn, Jaheira (then R/C) and Haer'Dalis.
- Evil bioware NPCs are extremely rare in choice if ever.

In my eyes, this is hardly a large variation. It's not that I don't think that there are few party compositions with the Bioware NPCs. It's just that I rarely see players use them. One reason I think is that there are very few descriptions of parties that include the less used bioware NPCs, another reason may be because IA is favoured towards "Good aligned" party compositions, and a final reason is that certain NPCs are buffed more than others in the sense of items and item usability.
Perhaps these are things that could use some attention, before other readers of the mod get the same impression as me? Some attention to the less used NPCs (pinned topic perhaps) such as an equipment suggestion for each of them could go a long way. In the future version some added quests for evil parties and evil-only items would also span the gap. They don't have to be numerous, some will do.... some neutral-only items would be decent to add as well.
[end constructive criticism]

My current party:
- Vagrant (I should have picked something less mainstream but I've progressed too far to restart now)
- Anomen, quests finished and too many potions of agility needed, so I will change him for viconia who will be clerical caster (with improved human armor)
- Jan, will be changed to Imoen when I get to spellhold
- Nalia, I have never played with her in my party so she will stay. She's a decent thief and I've equipped her with darts and buckler for good hitting fun.
- Jaheira, quests finished, so I will switch her for Haer'Dalis when I rescue him
- I will go rescue Mazzy next so that anomen becomes obsolete

This post has been edited by lroumen: Feb 12 2008, 10:56 AM