Vuki's experience with IA V5.0, Using a special party composition Options

[Vuki]

I started a new party because I was a little bit tired and bored with the previous one. My previous party was a usual IA party: sorcerer protagonist + barbarian + blade + ranger->cleric (dual) + cleric/mage (multi) + monk. I will surely continue my old game later on but at the moment I concentrate on the new party. Ok, so this is the new party composation (and their current statistics):

Protagonist: Lothar, a half-elf Vagrant: Chaotic Good; lvl 9th; Axe++, Flail++, Club++, two-weapon style+++
Barbie, the half-ork barbarian (he is a male! ): Chaotic Good; lvl 9th; 2H Sword++, Spear+, Quater Staff++, 2H weapon style++
Ince, the Inquisitor: Lawful Good; lvl 9th; 2H Sword++, Halberd++, Quater Staff+, 2H weapon style++
Rancle, the Ranger->Cleric (dual class): Neutral Good; lvl 7/9th; War Hammer++, Club++, Flail++, Mace++, Quater Staff+, two-weapon style+++
Berti, the Berserker->Thief (dual): Chaotic Neutral; lvl 9/10th; Long Sword++, Scimitar+, Short Sword+, Dagger+, Club++, Dart+, two-weapon style+++
Cernd, the Auramaster: True Neutral; lvl 11th; Scimitar+, Dagger+, Quater Staff+, Sling+

Yes, there is no arcane caster at all! And there will be no arcane caster in the future as well. I will replace sometimes Cernd with other NPCs to trigger their quest but not arcane caster NPC. That was my intention from the beginning and it is a concept and not an accident.

I think in a lot of cases it will make my life harder but some battles will be easier. Also I do not have to prebuff as much because I am not able to do as much prebuff as with an arcane caster. Life is good.

I will write here my experience with this party as I advance in the game. I will update my second post here (so, not this one). I will write it from the viewpoint of Lothar. Btw, I have no idea how I was able to find such a name. Lothar. In the other cases I think the naming logic is clear.

Ps. Sorry for my not so good English! I hope it would be still enjoyable.

Update:
Part 1 is finished
Part 2 is finished
Part 3 is finished
Part 4 is partially entered

This post has been edited by Vuki: Sep 1 2008, 09:33 AM

[Sikret]

He has an inquisitor to compensate lack of Breach (though it will take some time for the inquisitor to reach high levels and be able to cast powerful dispel magics; at early stages of the game, he will mostly dispel the party's own protections). Lack of Ruby Ray is also important specially because it will take a relatively long time for Cernd to hit level 14 (and if Vuki replaces Cernd with other NPCs frequently, it will take even longer).

Lack of Improved Haste, PFME and other arcane spells are of course worrying and will make the game more challenging for the player.

Let us know how it will go on, Vuki! It looks interesting at least at the first glance.

[Vuki]

He has an inquisitor to compensate lack of Breach (though it will take some time for the inquisitor to reach high levels and be able to cast powerful dispel magics; at early stages of the game, he will mostly dispel the party's own protections).

Yes, that is the reason I have the inquisitor. Btw Sikret, does Remove Fear protects against "Turn"?

Lack of Ruby Ray is also important specially because it will take a relatively long time for Cernd to hit level 14 (and if Vuki replaces Cernd with other NPCs frequently, it will take even longer).

I will not replace him to much times and mainly I will do it in Chapter 6.

Lack of Improved Haste, PFME and other arcane spells are of course worrying and will make the game more challenging for the player.

Two of my characters will be improved hasted permanently at later stages. Three others will use Greater Whirlwind. PFME and some other protections are however still a problem.

Let us know how it will go on, Vuki! It looks interesting at least at the first glance.

Thanks. Until that point (very early in the game) it is very easy. Problems will come later - I am sure.