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

[LZJ]

Hmm, I still haven't fighted against Tor'gal with this party but I beated Tazok and I think he is also very strong (even he is of course not as strong as Tor'gal).

Hmmm that's interesting Vuki. With 5 fighters, Imp. Haste is not really a necessity. I think your biggest challenge in the early game would not be from fighters or clerics, but from mages casting massive magic damage via Horrid Wiltings, especially those triple Horrid Wiltings. Please do elaborate on how you deal with those! Ilbratha? Potions of Magic Blocking + Carsomyr? Or just a Raise dead on some unlucky sacrifice after the battle is over?

In the mid-game I think your challenge may come from powerful fighters/attackers, esp. the Grandlords. Your Auramaster and Ranger/Cleric can probably draw off most of the attacks though, since you lack a very hardy summons: the Mordy Sword.

Anyway, your party composition is very unique, and I'll be sure to check this regularly.

[Vuki]

Hmmm that's interesting Vuki. With 5 fighters, Imp. Haste is not really a necessity. I think your biggest challenge in the early game would not be from fighters or clerics, but from mages casting massive magic damage via Horrid Wiltings, especially those triple Horrid Wiltings. Please do elaborate on how you deal with those! Ilbratha? Potions of Magic Blocking + Carsomyr? Or just a Raise dead on some unlucky sacrifice after the battle is over?

I agree, mages are really a challenge. My only hope will be the Dispel Magic of my Inquisitor. Unfortunately it does not work really well at the moment (he has level 10, so he dispels on level 14 which is definitely not enough) but when he reached level 13 he will dispel as level 18 which could be enough.

Against mages I have a tactics. I select one fighter (usually my barbarian) who stands close to the mage and make him busy. Other partymembers are standing a bit away and the mage cannot see them. When my fighter is really damaged then another partymember goes to the mage and the damaged fighter go back. Then he is cured, prebuffed and we repeat the process. That way the mage can damage only one character and Horrid Wilting is wasted (it makes damage only on one character, so in sum it does not damage too much). that is my tactics teoretically however I am not sure if it is really working in practice.

BTW, until now nobody died in my party! I tried to avoid death even if it is not a condition in my game.

This post has been edited by Vuki: Aug 24 2008, 05:25 PM