Recommended Party Composition Options

[Kraitok]

This will be my first time through and I have a question about setting up a party. From what I've heard, melee tends to be the way to actually kill things late game, while your casters are more of a debuffer and utility class rather than damage dealer right? With that in mind, what would you recommend as a basis for #fighters, mages, clerics? Keep in mind, I prefer to play a thief but it just doesnt seem like a good idea at this point.

[Sikret]

This will be my first time through and I have a question about setting up a party. From what I've heard, melee tends to be the way to actually kill things late game, while your casters are more of a debuffer and utility class rather than damage dealer right?

No, this is not true. Except few particular bosses, most enemies are vulnerable to offensive magic.

what would you recommend as a basis for #fighters, mages, clerics? Keep in mind, I prefer to play a thief but it just doesnt seem like a good idea at this point.

There are many playable party compositions, though admittedly some combinations will lead to additional challenge, which may not be what you are looking for in your first run.

If it's your first run, and if you want to see more new quests and additional content in the game, I recommend to take a vagrant ranger as your protagonist.